12 people killed in explosion in Turkish ammunition factory

An explosion at an ammunition and explosives factory in northwest Turkey has killed at least 12 people and injured four others.

Balıkesir city governor Ismail Ustaoglu said the explosion occurred at 8:25 a.m. local time (5:25 GMT) in a capsule production section.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the cause was not yet clear, but authorities ruled out sabotage.

Video from the scene showed a ball of fire erupting from the factory, destroying a portion of the building, followed by a plume of thick smoke.

Subsequent footage shows broken steel pieces scattered in the surrounding area.

The explosion shook the entire Kotayli township, witnesses told CNN Turk.

Multiple firefighters were dispatched to tackle the blaze and health and safety units were dispatched to the area, officials said.

“I wish God’s mercy on our dead citizens and the speedy recovery of our injured,” Mr Ustaoglu said in a post on social media.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunç said an investigation had been launched into the circumstances that led to the explosion.