MORE than 200 people have been killed and hopes are fading for hundreds more still trapped underground after an explosion at a coal mine in western Turkey, one of the worst industrial disasters ever to hit the country.
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said 363 workers had been pulled out alive in the initial stages of the rescue on Tuesday, while Turkish media said early yesterday another six had been rescued.
But Yildiz said fires and the risk of toxic carbon monoxide were hampering rescue efforts.
“I must say that our hopes about rescue efforts inside are fading,” he said.
In all, 201 miners have been confirmed dead after a blast on Tuesday at the mine in Manisa province trapped 787 mineworkers. Of those rescued alive, 80 were injured, four of them seriously, Yildiz said.
Earlier, a security source said there were pockets in the mine, one of which was open so rescuers were able to reach the workers, but the second was blocked with miners trapped inside.
The explosion was believed to have been triggered by a faulty electrical transformer.
Hundreds of people gathered around the explosion site as rescuers brought out injured workers, who were coughing and struggling to breathe due to the dust.
Sena Isbiler, mother of one of the miners said: “I have been waiting for my son since early afternoon. I haven’t heard anything about him yet.”
Arum Unzar, a colleague of the missing miners said: “All the victims are our friends. We are a family and today that family is devastated. We have had very little news and when it does come it’s very bad.”
Fire officials were trying to pump clean air into the mine shaft for those who remained trapped some 2km below the surface and 4km from the entrance.
Late on Tuesday evening injured people were still emerging from the collapsed mine – some walking, others being carried by rescue workers while being given oxygen.
Nearby, security officers tried to keep ambulance routes clear to ensure help could reach the victims.
The mining company Soma Komur issued a statement saying the mine had taken maximum measures to ensure safety.
Energy Minister Yildiz promised the government would “not turn a blind eye” to negligence. “We will do whatever necessary, including all administrative and legal steps,” he said.
Turkey’s ministry of labour and social security said the mine was last inspected on March 17 and was found to be compliant with safety regulations.
But Oktay Berrin, a miner, said workers were not protected underground.
“There is no security in this mine. The unions are just puppets and our management only cares about money.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office said he would arrive in Soma yesterday after cancelling a trip to Albania.
Speaking in Ankara, the leader expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to the families.
Yildiz told journalists in Soma that a team of 400 people were involved in the rescue effort and that the main cause of the deaths was carbon monoxide and dioxide poisoning.
“Time isn’t working in our favour. We need to get them out. We could be in a troubled situation,” he said earlier.
The miners are all thought to have gas masks, but it was not clear how long they would last. — AFP
Hopes fading in huge mine blast
Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said 363 workers had been pulled out alive in the initial stages of the rescue on Tuesday, while Turkish media said early yesterday another six had been rescued.
But Yildiz said fires and the risk of toxic carbon monoxide were hampering rescue efforts.
“I must say that our hopes about rescue efforts inside are fading,” he said.
In all, 201 miners have been confirmed dead after a blast on Tuesday at the mine in Manisa province trapped 787 mineworkers. Of those rescued alive, 80 were injured, four of them seriously, Yildiz said.
Earlier, a security source said there were pockets in the mine, one of which was open so rescuers were able to reach the workers, but the second was blocked with miners trapped inside.
The explosion was believed to have been triggered by a faulty electrical transformer.
Hundreds of people gathered around the explosion site as rescuers brought out injured workers, who were coughing and struggling to breathe due to the dust.
Sena Isbiler, mother of one of the miners said: “I have been waiting for my son since early afternoon. I haven’t heard anything about him yet.”
Arum Unzar, a colleague of the missing miners said: “All the victims are our friends. We are a family and today that family is devastated. We have had very little news and when it does come it’s very bad.”
Fire officials were trying to pump clean air into the mine shaft for those who remained trapped some 2km below the surface and 4km from the entrance.
Late on Tuesday evening injured people were still emerging from the collapsed mine – some walking, others being carried by rescue workers while being given oxygen.
Nearby, security officers tried to keep ambulance routes clear to ensure help could reach the victims.
The mining company Soma Komur issued a statement saying the mine had taken maximum measures to ensure safety.
Energy Minister Yildiz promised the government would “not turn a blind eye” to negligence. “We will do whatever necessary, including all administrative and legal steps,” he said.
Turkey’s ministry of labour and social security said the mine was last inspected on March 17 and was found to be compliant with safety regulations.
But Oktay Berrin, a miner, said workers were not protected underground.
“There is no security in this mine. The unions are just puppets and our management only cares about money.”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office said he would arrive in Soma yesterday after cancelling a trip to Albania.
Speaking in Ankara, the leader expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to the families.
Yildiz told journalists in Soma that a team of 400 people were involved in the rescue effort and that the main cause of the deaths was carbon monoxide and dioxide poisoning.
“Time isn’t working in our favour. We need to get them out. We could be in a troubled situation,” he said earlier.
The miners are all thought to have gas masks, but it was not clear how long they would last. — AFP
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