Gunpowder factory in central Turkey rocked by blast

Ankara: An explosion rocked a gunpowder factory in central Turkey on Friday, killing two people and injuring another 12, Turkish broadcasters reported.

Many ambulances and fire engines rushed to the scene of the explosion at a factory belonging to Turkish defence company MKE, the main supplier of Turkey's armed forces, state-run Anatolian news agency reported.

The blast occurred in Kirikkale province at 2:50 pm (1150 GMT) and triggered a fire at the plant, the agency said. The first televison footage showed a large cloud of smoke rising from the scene of the blast.

NTV said 12 people were injured, while CNN Turk television reported gendarmerie forces as saying six people were seriously injured and that some people were missing.

It was not clear what caused the blast, which shattered nearby windows.