An explosion at a steel and iron manufacturing plant in western Turkey killed three people and left 10 missing on Monday, according to the local governor's office.

The blast occurred around noon local time at the Habas plant in the Aliaga district of Izmir province. Initial findings indicate it happened when a ceiling crane snapped and fell into an arc furnace during the liquid steel casting process.

Fourteen workers were injured in the incident, with three in serious condition. They were taken to hospitals in the region for treatment. Search and rescue operations continued to locate the 10 people trapped under the rubble.

Footage from local television stations showed large plumes of grey dust and smoke rising above the facility. Witnesses described a powerful blast that shook the ground.

Habas is one of Turkey's major steel producers, with significant capacity at the Aliaga site. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

Later updates from officials indicated the death toll rose as rescue efforts progressed, with additional fatalities reported among the injured and those recovered from the debris.