4 dead in Tupras Izmir refinery blast in Turkey

By Murat Temizer

ANKARA

Four people were killed from an explosion at a storage tank in Turkey's Tupras, the country's sole oil refining company, in the western province of Izmir, according to Aliaga district governor Bayram Yilmaz on Wednesday.

Yilmaz cited gas entrapment as the cause of the explosion that killed four people and injured two.

"This is a work accident, and not an attack," he said.

Tupras updated their press release and confirmed that the four, who were seriously wounded and taken to hospital, have died.

"Despite all the interventions made, employees Kemal Sasmazer, Yusuf Kepenek, Mehmet Karademir and Mehmet Dere lost their lives while the treatment of injured Halil Ibrahim Kavlak is ongoing," the company said.