According to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, a coal mine explosion in Turkey’s northern Bartin province on Friday claimed the lives of 28 people while rescue workers continued to look for anyone who may have become trapped underneath.
Koca also posted on Twitter that 11 of the 58 miners who had been rescued were still receiving medical care, but it was unclear how many others were still trapped because of the explosion that occurred when 110 people were working. Initial evidence, according to the authorities, suggested that the explosion was brought on by firedamp, a word for the methane found in coal mines.
Reuters and local media footage indicated that the miners’ coworkers and family were waiting at the scene and in the medical facilities where the injured were being treated. In Turkey’s biggest mining catastrophe in history, which occurred in the western town of Soma, 350 kilometres (217 miles) south of Istanbul, 301 employees perished in 2014.
On October 14, 2022, a devastating explosion occurred at the state-owned TTK Amasra Muessese Mudurlugu coal mine in Amasra, located in Turkey’s northern Bartin province along the Black Sea coast. At the time of the incident, 110 miners were working underground. The explosion resulted in a tragic loss of life, with initial reports confirming 28 fatalities.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca reported that 11 miners were rescued and hospitalized in Bartin and Istanbul. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu stated that 58 miners had been rescued alive. Rescue operations continued as teams worked tirelessly to reach those still trapped underground.
Preliminary assessments suggested that the explosion was likely caused by firedamp, a term referring to flammable gases found in coal mines. Energy Minister Fatih Durmaz noted that rescue efforts were ongoing for 15 miners, with a majority located in a gallery where a fire was still burning. Efforts to isolate and extinguish the fire were underway to ensure the safety of the rescue team.
This incident is one of the deadliest mining disasters in Turkey in recent years. In 2014, the country experienced its worst mining disaster when 301 workers were killed in a fire inside a coal mine in the western town of Soma.
In response to the tragedy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan canceled a planned trip to Diyarbakır and instead traveled to Amasra on October 15 to oversee the rescue operations and meet with affected families. He expressed hope that the loss of life would not increase further and emphasized that all efforts were aimed at rescuing the trapped miners.
The disaster has prompted discussions about mining safety standards in Turkey. The head of DISK, a left-wing trade union, expressed sorrow and anger, stating that the deaths were preventable and that the union’s safety suggestions had been overlooked. Despite increased inspections mandated after the Soma tragedy, some precautions were reportedly ignored for profitability, leading to calls for accountability and improved safety measures in the mining industry.
As rescue efforts continued, the nation mourned the loss of the miners and awaited further updates on the situation. The incident has reignited concerns over mining safety and the enforcement of regulations designed to protect workers in one of Turkey’s most hazardous industries.
Group Media Publication
Construction, Infrastructure and Mining
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