At least 7 killed in southeastern Turkey factory blast

USPA News - At least seven people were confirmed dead after a factory in southeastern Turkey caught fire, local authorities said Wednesday. The fire broke out at a galvanizing plant in Turkey`s province of Gaziantep at around 10:45 a.m. local time after an explosion that was believed to be started by a fast leak at the facility.

Gaziantep Mayor As?m Güzelbey said eight people were killed, as did the Gaziantep FIre Department, adding that thirteen others were wounded. However, different reports indicated death tolls between six and eight people. In addition Mayor Güzelbey said another two factory workers were missing and thought to be under the debris. Sanko Holding Executive Board President Abdülkadir Konuko?lu, who visited the site of the accident, in a statement said seven people had lost their lives, expressing condolences for the victims` families. Details of the incident remain uncertain, but as investigations are ongoing, officials said gas trapped in one of the facility`s vats could have caused the blast and initiated the fire.