A fire at the site of Turkey’s top oil refiner, Tüpraş, that broke out during work on a compressor slightly injured 12 people in the country’s northwest, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a company statement.
The fire was brought under control and the unit was deactivated, Tüpraş said, adding that the wounded were sent to a hospital in Kocaeli province. Other operations in the refinery carried on as usual, the company said.
Earlier media reports from NTV and other outlets indicated that an explosion occurred at the Tüpraş site. Video footage showed smoke billowing from the refinery not far from İstanbul.
Lax work safety standards have been a concern for decades in Turkey, where workplace accidents are an almost daily occurrence. Health and Safety Labor Watch (İSİG) reported nearly 2,000 work-related deaths in 2023.