Rescue workers yesterday recovered the bodies of 28 miners trapped underground in a Turkish coal mine following a gas explosion, in one of the worst mine accidents in recent years.
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said rescuers were still looking to find the bodies of two other miners believed to be either buried under or beyond a pile of earth and rock in the Karadon mine in the northern province of Zonguldak.
“We have found the bodies of 28 people. Efforts are continuing to try to find the two other men,” Yildiz told reporters.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Initial findings suggested that the miners had died from carbon dioxide poisoning, he said.
The workers were trapped at a depth of 540m on Monday when a powerful explosion, triggered by the build-up of methane gas, ripped through the pit, causing a massive cave-in.
Rescuers initially tried to reach the trapped miners through the main shaft of the mine, but found that the platform used to lower the workers was extensively damaged.
The operation was then shifted to another shaft 2,000m from the site of the explosion, forcing rescuers to travel that distance through an underground tunnel.
But their efforts were hampered by huge blocks of stone the size of cars that took them precious time to bypass.
Yildiz said rescuers launched a second effort to reach the miners through the main shaft late on Wednesday after they repaired the elevator system and descended into the pit despite obvious safety risks.
News of the deaths triggered scenes of grief among families waiting at the mine since Monday for news of their loved ones. Many broke down in tears in front of television cameras after hearing the minister’s announcement.
Explosions and cave-ins are common in Turkey, particularly in private mines where respect for safety regulations is often minimal.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into Monday’s blast and other recent mining disasters.
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