At least 12 people were injured in an explosion at a warehouse belonging to the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), located at the state-run Derince Port in the Turkish province of Kocaeli on Monday.
The forceful blast occurred at around 2:40 p.m. local time, and its impact was reportedly felt throughout the town.
Emergency responders were promptly dispatched to the scene.
It is understood that up to 13 silos and outbuildings containing substantial volumes of grain have been destroyed, according to the Turkish Grain Board.
An investigation has begun into the cause of the explosion, with preliminary reports suggesting a compression of wheat dust as the commodity was transferred from a ship sparked the blast.
“Initial evaluations show that an explosion occurred due to wheat dust compression during the transfer of wheat from a ship to the silo,” said Seddar Yavuz, the governor of Kocaeli province.
“We were told that it is technically possible that a blast could occur due to compression of wheat dust, but we are investigating every possible reason,” he added.
Yavuz confirmed that 12 people were injured and “quickly transferred to hospitals.” He wished them a speedy recovery, adding that cooling and inspection studies had begun on the site.
“The cause will be clarified after a detailed technical investigation,” a TMO statement added.
The Derince Port was one of the Turkish government-run ports approved to receive Ukrainian grain under the Black Sea grain agreement brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last year, which Russia refused to extend last month.
