At least 50 wounded in firework factory explosion in NW Turkey

At least 50 people were wounded Friday in an explosion at a firework factory in Turkey's northwestern province of Sakarya, local media reported.

Citing to a statement of Sakarya Governor Cetin Oktay Kaldirim, the state-run TRT broadcaster said 50 people so far have been rushed to the nearby hospitals.

Kaldirim stated that there were 172 people inside the factory, which contained 110 tons of explosive materials.

Over 60 ambulances and two helicopter ambulances have been dispatched to the area, according to press reports.

The NTV broadcaster noted that three of the wounded people are in critical condition.

Kerem Kinik, president of the Turkish Red Crescent, urged people who live close to the explosion area to close their doors and windows to avoid the smoke, noting that the chemicals in the smoke can badly affect health.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority announced that the incident should be considered as an industrial accident, and no radiation source has been detected at the factory.