<Anchor>
Yesterday (13th) afternoon, there was an explosion in the downtown area of Istanbul, Turkey's largest city.
So far, at least 6 people have been killed and more than 80 people have been injured.
The Turkish government has defined the incident as a 'terrorism' and is investigating the background.
This is reporter Yoo Soo-hwan.
<Reporter>
Citizens rush to and fro, filling the streets.
In an instant, a powerful explosion occurs with flames, and smoke fills the street.
At around 4:10 pm local time yesterday (13th), an unexplained explosion occurred in the downtown area of Istanbul, the largest city in Turkiye.
At least six people were killed and more than 80 injured in the accident, Turkish authorities said.
President Erdogan Turkiye has labeled the incident a terrorist attack and has ordered an immediate investigation into the background.
[President Erdogan/Turkiye: I can't say this was an unquestioned terrorist attack, but it smells of terror, according to the Istanbul governor.
Early discoveries, people's sightings, etc...
.]
The Turkish government opened an investigation into the possibility that extremist militants or Kurdish separatist militants were involved in the incident.
In particular, the street where the accident occurred is the busiest downtown area in Istanbul where many tourists visit, and it is analyzed that the major embassies, hotels, luxury shops, and restaurants are clustered together, and the explosion occurred in broad daylight, resulting in significant casualties.
So far, it is known that there have been no Korean victims.
Turkiye has been in tension not only within the country, but also across the borders of neighboring countries such as Iraq and Syria, carrying out a sweeping operation against the Kurdish Workers' Party, an armed Kurdish separatist organization.