Published: August 7, 2023 1:31 pm
Author: RT
The blast injured four people and destroyed a bank of grain silos
At least four people have been injured in an explosion at the port of Derince in Türkiye, the town’s mayor told local media. The blast was caught on video, and described by witnesses as like a “violent earthquake.”
The explosion occurred in mid-afternoon on Monday, with Derince mayor Zeki Aygün telling local media that it originated at a block of government-owned grain silos. Four people were injured and taken to a nearby hospital, he said, adding that from his nearby office, the blast felt “like a violent earthquake.”
Security camera footage captured the moment of the blast, which scattered debris across a nearby goods yard. Video shot from further away showed a cloud of smoke and dust rising over the port after the blast.
Kocaeli’de Derince Limanı’nda patlama anı pic.twitter.com/x8SPOuKyMj
— İhlas Haber Ajansı (@ihacomtr) August 7, 2023
— ———————— (@video_stock1) August 7, 2023
Situated around 90 kilometers (55 miles) east of Istanbul in the province of Kocaeli, Derince is one of the few seaports in Türkiye wholly operated by the government. Derince is a grain transportation hub, and received regular shipments of grain from Ukraine, until the Black Sea grain deal expired last month.
The cause of Monday’s explosion is still unclear, however, CNN Turk reported that it took place while grain was being loaded onto a vessel. According to live data from MarineTraffic.com, a Marshall Islands-flagged transport ship is currently moored next to the silos.
Three silos were destroyed in the blast, according to the Kocaeli Fire Brigade. Emergency services are still working at the scene, and police have launched an investigation into the incident.
