Tragic explosion at Tupras oil refinery claims contractor's life VIDEO

A contractor for the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation (TUPRAS) tragically lost his life during a fire at the Izmit oil refinery in Kocaeli province, western Türkiye, on November 4 evening.

The company reported that the fire was believed to have been caused by a malfunction during maintenance work in the crude oil section of the facility, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

🔴 İzmit'te TÜPRAŞ rafinerisinde meydana gelen patlamadan sonraki ilk görüntüler. pic.twitter.com/aOK7UeL5Wp

— Yeni Şafak (@yenisafak) November 5, 2024

According to TUPRAS, an explosion and subsequent fire erupted in the oil tanks at the refinery. Emergency crews from the privately owned company responded swiftly, managing to bring the blaze under control around 23:45 local time. Despite their efforts, 31-year-old subcontractor Mustafa Er, who had recently married, succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident.

In addition to Er’s tragic passing, four other staff members were injured in the fire and taken to the hospital. Fortunately, their condition has been reported as stable.

TUPRAS operates four oil refineries with a total annual crude oil processing capacity of 28.1 million tonnes. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing. Footage from the scene revealed thick smoke billowing from the refinery, highlighting the severity of the incident.

The company stated that no external assistance was required to manage the fire, thanks to the prompt response of their emergency teams. As TUPRAS continues to assess the situation, the industry mourns the loss of a dedicated contractor.

By Aghakazim Guliyev