At least 25 people were killed in a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey, according to local authorities, while rescuers struggled through the night to free scores of other trapped victims.
The explosion occurred 6. 45p (local time) at the state-owned TTK Amasra Muessese Mudurlugu mine in the town of Amasra, in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin.
According to preliminary analysis, the explosion was probably brought on by firedamp, a term for flammable gases prevalent in coal mines, according to Energy Minister Fatih Donmez.
According to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, who travelled to Amasra to oversee the rescue effort, there were 110 people in the mine when it erupted. The majority of the employees were able to leave the building after the explosion, but 49 were stuck in a more dangerous region, according to the ministry.
Soylu refused to give the number of those remaining trapped, claiming that some of the 49 had already been rescued.
We have to share an image with the public, which is something we genuinely regret, Soylu stated.
According to the Bartin governor’s office, 25 people died in the explosion. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca reported at least 17 injured, including eight who were being treated in intensive care units.
Turkey’s disaster management organisation, AFAD, reported that numerous rescue teams, including those from adjacent provinces, were sent to the area.
In order to coordinate the rescue effort, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he was postponing a trip to the southeast Turkish city of Diyarbakir in favour of Amasra. He said that the matter had been given the attention of three prosecutors.
Erdogan said in a statement, “Our wish is that the loss of life does not escalate further and that our miners be saved. Our entire effort is focused in that direction.
One employee told Bartin Governor Nurtac Arslan that he left the mine on his own, according to a report from the private DHA news agency. He spoke of a “pressure,” but said that the dust and filth prevented him from seeing anything.
According to DHA, people flocked to the mine in search of news of stranded friends or coworkers.
In the deadliest mine accident to ever affect Turkey, a coal mine fire in the western town of Soma claimed 301 lives in 2014.
Officials: Turkish coal mine disaster leaves 25 dead, dozens imprisoned
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