Mine blast kills 238 in Turkey

FE Team | Published: May 15, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

STAYING ALIVE : A man kissing his son, rescued from a coal mine in Manisa, Turkey Tuesday. An explosion and subsequent collapse of the mine killed at least 238 miners. — AFP

SOMA (Turkey), May 14 (Agencies): Rescuers are hunting desperately for scores of Turkish coal miners still missing after an explosion caused a pit to collapse, killing at least 238.
Dozens escaped the pit in Soma, 450km (280 miles) from Ankara, but officials say more than 200 are unaccounted for.
Frantic relatives have gathered at the mine, waiting for news of loved ones.
On a visit to Soma, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences, and said all possible resources were being used for the rescue operation.
He said that 238 people are confirmed dead from an explosion at a mine, as rescuers battled to reach potentially hundreds still trapped in one of the country's worst ever industrial disasters.
Most of the deaths have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Three days of national mourning have been declared.
Meanwhile, Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannon at around 800 protesters in Ankara who accused the government and mining industry of negligence.