AMMAN — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday expressed condolences to Turkey over an explosion at a steel factory in Izmir province.

 

In a statement, ministry spokesperson Fouad Majali reaffirmed the Kingdom’s solidarity with the Turkish government and people, extending condolences to the families of the victims and wishing those injured a speedy recovery.

 

An explosion ripped through a steel plant in western Turkey on Monday, killing 17 people, according to AFP.

 

The blast occurred around midday (0900 GMT) at the HABAS steel factory about 60 kilometres north of the port city of Izmir, officials said.

 

Izmir governor Suleyman Elban said the explosion occurred during "a boiler replacement operation" when an overhead crane collapsed into a large industrial furnace used during the liquid steel casting process.