ANKARA: A powerful explosion near Derince Port in Turkey’s Kocaeli province has shaken the area, injuring at least 12 people, according to initial reports by Turkish media. The explosion occurred near the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) silos at approximately 2:40 pm (1140 GMT), with emergency responders swiftly dispatched to the scene to provide immediate medical assistance.
While the exact cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, initial assessments indicate that it may have been triggered by the compression of wheat dust during the transfer of wheat from a ship to the silos, according to Seddar Yavuz, the governor of Kocaeli. Yavuz emphasized that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the precise reason behind the blast.
Turkey Blast Damages
The explosion resulted in damage to 13 silos and outbuildings in the vicinity, as confirmed by the TMO. However, the Ministry of Transportation assured that no ships were harmed in the incident.
Turkish disaster and emergency management authority AFAD reported that one person has been rescued from beneath the rubble, and there have been no reported casualties as of now.
Health, search and rescue, and fire brigade teams were rapidly mobilized to the scene to assist in the aftermath of the explosion, ensuring that injured individuals were promptly evacuated to medical facilities.
Derince Mayor Zeki Akgun described the moment of the explosion, stating, “We heard an explosion noise and we saw the explosion hit TMO’s silos. The injured people were sent to the hospital.”
