Turkish defense chief visits SE province amid blast

By Orhan Onur Gemici and Sarp Özer

HAKKARI, Turkey

Turkey’s defense minister Friday visited southeastern Hakkari province where at least 25 soldiers were injured by an accidental explosion of defective ammunition.

Hulusi Akar was accompanied by Turkish Chief of General Staff Yasar Guler and the commander of Turkish Land Forces Umit Dundar.

Akar visited the soldiers at Hakkari State Hospital.

He said there were still ongoing explosions at the army base although they lessened. Due to explosions, a fire was still ongoing, he added.

“Our search and rescue works continue in the same way,” Akar said.

The Turkish National Defense Ministry said earlier Friday: "Twenty-five of our military personnel were injured today at the Ortaklar Sungu Tepe military base in the Semdinli district when defective ammunition detonated during artillery shooting."

The injured are being treated while rescue workers are trying to reach seven missing soldiers, it added.