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Turkish mine explosion death toll reaches 201

Source: Xinhua | May 14, 2014, Wednesday | Online Edition

THE Turkish government announced early today that so far, 201 miners are known to have lost their lives and at least 80 have been injured in a coal mine explosion and fire in Turkey's western Manisa province yesterday.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that 363 miners of the 787 who were working underground have been accounted for, including the deceased and the 80 people rescued with injuries. Four of the injured are in critical condition. Yildiz said the deaths were due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The explosion and fire occurred in the privately-owned mine in the district of Soma following an electrical fault during a shift changeover. The fire broke out 150 meters underground, Yildiz said.

The trapped workers are thought to be 3.5 km away from the entrance to the mine.

President Abdullah Gul has ordered the Manisa Governor's Office to use all means available to help state officials with the rescue operation.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has canceled a trip to Albania to pay a visit to the province, has offered condolences to the families of those killed.

The latest incident is one of the numerous mining accidents that Turkey has had in recent years. Accidents, cave-ins, and explosions have claimed the lives of dozens of mine workers yearly.

The worst mining tragedy in Turkey occurred in 1992, when a fire and explosion killed 263 people. The second and third worst took place in 1983 and 1990, leaving 103 and 68 dead respectively in methane gas explosions.

Mines and stone quarries are the most dangerous places for Turkish workers. According to data, more than 10 percent of work-related accidents in 2013 were in the mining sector.

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