New details emerge in Balıkesir explosion: An explosion occurred 10 years ago as well

In the explosion that occurred in the capsule production section of the ZSR ammunition facility in Balıkesir, 12 workers lost their lives and 5 workers were injured.

A similar explosion occurred at the same factory 10 years ago, leaving 6 people injured.

The explosion occurred around 08:25 in the morning at the ammunition factory owned by ZSR Patlayıcı Sanayi AŞ, located in the Kavaklı neighborhood of Balıkesir's Karesi district.

Following the explosion in the building where capsule production was carried out, 12 employees lost their lives and 5 people were injured at the factory, which is established on a one-thousand-acre site.

On June 4, 2014, an explosion also occurred at the factory, which was owned by Yavaşçalar A.Ş. at the time, during the morning hours while a cartridge was being compressed in the cartridge filling facilities.

At the time, four of those injured as a result of the cartridge explosion during work at the factory, which employed 300 workers, were treated on an outpatient basis, while two people were placed under observation.

Yavaşçalar A.Ş. Chairman of the Board İsmail Yavaşça was arrested following the 2016 coup attempt.

The company's journey began with the seizure by the TMSF (Savings Deposit Insurance Fund).

ONE OF THE PARTNERS IS KALYON

According to information in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette, ZSR Patlayıcı A.Ş. is owned by Zirve Holding and Senta Madencilik companies.

One of the company's owners is Ömer Faruk Kalyoncu, the owner of Zirve Holding.

Senta Madencilik, one of the company's partners, is owned by Zafer Topaloğlu.

Both individuals, known for their close relations with state officials, have frequently been in the news due to numerous tenders ranging from construction to the defense industry.

While Kalyon Holding has undertaken numerous projects such as the Taksim Pedestrianization Project, the Bakırköy Courthouse, the Mecidiyeköy Metrobus Tender, the Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey Metro Line, the Istanbul Airport Project, and the Başakşehir Stadium, Topaloğlu also serves on the board of directors of the Defense and Aerospace Industry Exporters' Association (SSI).

'WE BELIEVE THE NECESSARY INSPECTIONS WERE NOT CARRIED OUT'

Speaking to Gazete Duvar, Bedri Arık from the Balıkesir Environmental Platform and the Green Left Party said, "In Turkey, at least 5-6 people lose their lives every day in what are called work accidents, but are actually work-related murders. The insecurity of work environments is the result of employers' greed for money. We believe this place lacked inspections. It belonged to Yavaşçalar, then the state seized it. Afterward, capacity increased and the company grew. These are people close to the government. We believe the necessary inspections were not carried out. Negligence must be investigated and those responsible must be punished."