Türkiye mine blast toll rises to 40, one miner still missing, investigation launched

The death toll in the Turkiye mine blast has risen to 40, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Saturday, adding that search and rescue operations were continuing for one missing miner. The blast apparently took place because of a methane gas build-up. The trapped miners were trapped hundreds of metres below ground.

He added that 58 of the 110 people working in the mine were rescued by the teams or got out by themselves, adding there was uncertainty about one miner.

“There is still a fire going on there, miners and teams have made great sacrifices not to leave their brothers there,” Soylu said at the mine.

He also informed that the fire in the mine was largely contained but fire isolation and cooling efforts were still on. The incident took place 350 metres (0.2 miles) below ground.

“In all, 110 of our brothers were working (underground). Some of them came out on their own, and some of them were rescued,” Soylu said.

Talking about the status of those injured, Soylu said one miner was discharged from hospital while 10 were still receiving treatment in Bartin and Istanbul.

Authorities said Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.

Images on TV showed anxious crowds gathering at the mine — some with tears in their eyes — in search of their loved ones.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was expected to fly to the scene of the accident on Saturday. 

Most initial information about those trapped inside was coming from workers who had managed to climb out relatively unharmed. 

Amasra mayor Recai Cakir said many of those who survived had also suffered “serious injuries”. 

The blast took place moments before sunset and hence the darkness was impeding the rescue effort. Turkey’s Maden-Is mining workers’ union attributed the blast to a build-up of methane gas. 

However, officials were quoted in media reports saying that it was premature to predict what caused the accident.

Rescuers sent in reinforcements from surrounding villages to help search for signs of life.

Television images showed paramedics giving oxygen to the miners who had climbed out and then rushing them to the nearest hospitals. 

(With inputs from agencies)

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