Explosion at a truck carrying fireworks waste: 3 soldiers lose their lives

* Photos and news: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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An explosion has taken place at the truck carrying the fireworks waste that did not explode in the blast that occurred at Büyük Coşkunlar Firework Factory in Hendek, Sakarya on July 3.

While the incident happened while the vehicle was carrying the waste to Adapazarı district of Sakarya, three gendarmerie personnel have lost their lives in the blast according to initial reports.

Several healthcare personnel, fire brigade teams, security personnel, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and National Medical Rescue (UMKE) teams have been referred to the scene of incident.

Minister Soylu in Adapazarı

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has gone to Adapazarı following the incident. Addressing the reporters there, he has announced that the number of the wounded, which was first announced as six, has increased to 12, including 11 gendarmerie personnel and the driver of the truck.

He has said that the teams preferred to ensure the explosion of fireworks waste in another place as there is a forest near the scene of incident.

According to the statement of the Minister, after the explosion took place at the factory, 15 tons of fireworks waste has so far been exploded in a controlled manner. "While there has remained 1.5 tons of waste to be exploded, this incident has made us all sad," Soylu has added.

He has also announced that "the cause of the explosion will be understood after the ensuing investigation into the incident is concluded."

'We have 3 martyrs, 6 wounded'

Releasing a statement about the explosion, Sakarya Governor Çetin Oktay Yıldırım indicated that the recent blast took place while the explosive substances at the firework company were being carried to a stone pit in Adapazarı by expert teams upon the instruction of the Sakarya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the prosecutors.

Governor Kaldırım also said that the substances exploded while they were still in the truck. "We have three martyrs and six wounded, one of them in critical condition," he previously noted.

'It happened while substances were discharged'

In a statement released by the Ministry of Interior, it was also indicated that "the explosion took place while the explosive devices were being discharged from the truck to be exploded in a controlled manner."

Further in the statement, it was noted that "three gendarmerie personnel, two of whom were from the explosive disposal units, have fallen martyrs and six personnel have been wounded" in the incident.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu was also reportedly on his way to Hendek, Sakarya to make examinations aout the explosion.

What happened?

An explosion occurred at a firework factory in the district of Hendek in Turkey's western province of Sakarya at around 11.15 a.m. on July 3.

The blast was reportedly so powerful that it was heard from several parts of Düzce despite the factory being located 50 kilometers to the city center.

The explosion that took place at Büyük Coşkunlar Firework Factory claimed the lives of seven people and injured 126 others. (AÖ/SD)