Five people were killed and at least 63 injured in a gas explosion at a restaurant in Turkey on Sunday, the country’s interior minister said.

A shocking video shared on Twitter/X shows the moment a massive explosion near a Sunday market engulfed all debris and scattered it across the Fevzi Çakmak district in Torbalı, Izmir, on the Aegean coast.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on Twitter/X that the blast was believed to have been caused by an industrial gas cylinder exploding in a restaurant. Victims were taken to several nearby hospitals – at least one person is still in “serious” condition.

Jerlikaya confirmed that an investigation had been ordered, multiple ambulances and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, and residents had been evacuated and placed in social housing for fear of possible structural damage to standing buildings.

The explosion, which occurred in the city of Torbali, south of Izmir, was so powerful that it could be heard from miles away, the Anadolu news agency reported.

In an instant, a huge orange explosion rocked the area, throwing debris several meters into the air.

An aerial view of the damaged area where at least five people died on June 30

As a result of the sudden explosion that occurred this morning, windows were shattered from buildings

It is estimated that 63 people were injured in Sunday’s explosion

Rescue teams and eight ambulances were immediately dispatched

The victims were later named Birgül Sarsilmaz (born 1980), Ruken Çağur (born 1993), Evin Aslan (born 1988), Dilek Bağ (born 2000) and Havin Ergin (born 2007).

According to reports, three people died at the scene, while two died later at a nearby hospital.

According to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the explosion occurred earlier today on Barış Manço Street in the Ayrancılar district.

Photos broadcast on TV channels showed the facades of several buildings destroyed by the explosion and car windows broken.

The footage showed confused people walking down the street as the dust began to settle and pieces of metal and plastic were strewn on the ground.

Bystanders were seen helping each other leave the scene of the explosion. A woman could be heard crying as two men tried to help her.

Yerlikaya said the public will be kept updated as new information becomes available.

An earlier post reported four citizens dead and 35 injured, before the current data was provided.

Dr. Cemil Tugay, mayor of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and wrote: “Our teams are continuing all necessary work.

“We have begun working to meet all the needs of our citizens who have been attacked in this region, including housing.”

In a statement, it said the explosion took place opposite a popular cafe and confectionery shop and that “many” people were injured because a Sunday market was taking place nearby.

“Many of the injured are currently undergoing treatment,” Tugay told reporters after visiting victims at local hospitals.

“Some of them are undergoing treatment in the state hospital in Torbalı, some in private hospitals in Torbalı, and 5 people are being treated in hospitals in İzmir.

“We have one seriously injured person. It looks like 63 people are injured in total,” he said.

He confirmed that a restaurant staff member was among the victims and said nine buildings were destroyed in the blast.

Mayor Torbalı Övünç Demir said that people evacuated from the explosion zone were placed in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities.

“We are evacuating buildings and our metropolitan municipality is working to provide accommodation and social support,” he said.

“We, as a commune, did what we could from the very beginning. Our mayors of the surrounding districts are here and I would also like to thank them. I pray for God’s mercy for those who have passed away. I wish the injured a speedy recovery.”

Damage to a van after an explosion in a popular area of ​​Izmir

Devastating scenes show scale of destruction caused by Sunday’s explosion

A view of the destruction after an explosion at a restaurant in Turkey today

Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of those affected.

A quiet Sunday in Izmir was disturbed by a terrifying explosion in a restaurant, which killed five people

Locals tried to help each other stay safe as rubble strewn across the ground.

He added that it would be necessary to determine whether the structures of the buildings hit by the explosion were damaged to allow the safe return of residents.

Deputy Interior Minister Münir Karaloğlu later shared an overhead view of the aftermath as officials wearing helmets looked on.

The damage was significant, with broken windows and rubbish strewn about the sidewalk.

“May God have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives in an explosion caused by an industrial cylinder in a restaurant in Torbalı, Izmir, and I wish a speedy recovery to those injured,” he wrote.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not immediately comment on the matter.