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The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed that five people were killed in an explosion at a missile factory in the Turkish capital city of Ankara.

"An explosion occurred at the MKE missile factory in the Elmadag district of Ankara. The explosion killed five of our workers. A judicial and administrative investigation has been launched," the Ministry said.

"According to preliminary information, a chemical reaction caused an explosion around 8:45 am (0545 GMT) in the dynamite preparation department. Unfortunately, five employees were killed," Vasip Sahin, governor of the Ankara province, told reporters at the factory.

The bodies of all the victims have been recovered from the rubble and prosecutors have opened an investigation into the accident. 

Earlier, Sputnik cited the A Haber broadcaster as saying that the explosion resulted in several deaths.

CNN Turk reported that a search and rescue operation was underway in the area.

The Haberturk broadcaster noted that the explosion rocked the missile and explosives factory in Ankara's Elmadag district, and a fire brigade and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

The blast occurred at the MKE Rocket and Explosives Factory some 40 km (25 miles) outside Ankara. Ankara governor Vasip Sahin told reporters there were no more workers trapped, waiting to be rescued, or hospitalized.

🔴 Ankara'nın Elmadağ ilçesinde bulunan MKE roket ve patlayıcı madde fabrikasında patlama sesinin ardından dumanlar yükseldi.

▪️Fabrikaya itfaiye ve ambulans sevk edildi. pic.twitter.com/2MEevb5nEo

— Conflict (@ConflictTR) June 10, 2023

According to A Haber, a fire broke out following the blast but was mainly brought under control by fire brigades.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident.

Ankara'nın Elmadağ ilçesindeki Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi'ne ait Roket ve Patlayıcı Fabrikası'nda meydana gelen patlama sonrası işçi yakınları fabrikanın önüne koştu. pic.twitter.com/f43tS7jayK

— Yeni Şafak (@yenisafak) June 10, 2023