Unlicensed foundry blast kills worker

The foundry workshop where a blast killed a worker and injured another yesterday in the Istanbul district of Bayrampaşa was unlicensed and had been sealed off in 2010, according to a statement issued by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Municipality officials inspected the Özbir Metal Stainless Steel Company on April 15, 2010 and determined that it was unlicensed, as a result of which law enforcement officials consequently sealed it off on May 13, 2010 and ordered the termination of its activities, said the statement.

Ersin Kaya, 24, lost his life when a metal lid hit his head, while his co-worker Dursun Çiftçi, 28, was lightly injured after a boiler in the foundry exploded. 

The blast took place after the workers threw thinner into the boiler to build up the fire, according to allegations.


Compiled from Doğan news agency and Anatolia news agency stories by the Daily News staff in Istanbul.