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Turkey’s President Erdogan has today been comforting the families of the 41 people killed in a coal mine explosion in the north of the country last night, as he vowed to bring an end to mining disasters.
After cancelling a planned visit to the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir, Mr Erdogan arrived at the incident site in the town of Amsara, where he announced that the search to find the last trapped worker was complete, bringing the rescue operation to an end and the death toll to 41.
The explosion occurred at the state-owned TTK Amasra Muessese Mudurlugu mine in the town of Amasra, in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin, just before sunset last night, with rescue teams working throughout the night to find those who were trapped.
According to Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez, initial findings indicate the blast was caused by firedamp, an explosive mixture of flammable gases in mines.
Eleven were injured and hospitalised, with five in serious condition, while 58 others managed to get out of the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed.
Mr Erdogan expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, many of whom had waited all night in the cold hoping for good news.
Turkey’s President Erdogan has today been comforting the families of the 41 people killed in a coal mine explosion in the north of the country last night. Pictured showing his condolences during the funeral of Gurdal Serenli
The first funerals for those who lost their lives in the explosion took place today. Women cried at the funeral of miner Ridvan Acet, whose coffin was wrapped in the red and white Turkish flag (pictured)
Emergency services rushed to the scene last night after one of the worst mine explosions in Turkey’s history at the state-owned TTK Amasra Muessese Mudurlugu mine
The rescue effort continued into the night. Pictured: a miner was lifted into an ambulance and can be seen barefoot, and covered in mud from the horrific blast
The president said an investigation into the incident is already underway and will reveal if anyone is responsible for the blast. He added: ‘We don’t want to see deficiencies or unnecessary risks.’
He then joined funeral prayers for Rahman Ozcelik, 22, at a village where Turkish media said three other miners were also being mourned.
Meanwhile, women cried at the funeral of miner Ridvan Acet, whose coffin was wrapped in the red and white Turkish flag. Another miner, 28-year-old Aziz Kose, held his newborn baby just days ago. They mostly came from working-class families and went underground to the coal mines to make a living.
A miner who works the day shift said he saw the news and hurried to the site to help with the rescue.
‘We saw a frightful scene, it cannot be described, it’s very sad,’ said Celal Kara, 40.
‘They’re all my friends … they all had dreams,’ Mr Kara, who has been a miner for 14 years, said after exiting the mine, his face covered in soot.
Ambulances were on standby at the site. Rescue teams were dispatched to the area, including from neighbouring provinces, Turkey’s disaster management agency, AFAD, said.
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President Erdogan sits alongside relatives of Selcuk Ayvaz during a condolence visit to his family in the village of Ugurlar
Relatives attend the funeral ceremony of mine explosion victim Ridvan Acet, one of 41 people killed in the blast last night
Mr Erdogan expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, many of whom had waited all night in the cold hoping for good news. Pictured: women cry during the funeral of Ridvan Acet
A mining technician from TTK told broadcaster NTV that his team of rescue and occupational safety personnel arrived at the site Friday night. Ismail Cetin said they went down into the mine and walked about a mile with their kit and stretchers. They recovered nine bodies, whom he called ‘mine martyrs’.
Countries across the world offered their condolences to Turkey. Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered rescue assistance even though relations between the two neighbours have recently been particularly tense.
The UK’s Foreign Minister James Cleverly said: ‘My thoughts, and those of the UK, are with all those affected by this awful tragedy.’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he ‘learned with deep sadness’ the news that a mining explosion occurred in the Amasra district of Bartın.
‘I offer my condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,’ Zelenskyy said on Twitter in Turkish.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and paramedics were pictured appearing to perform CPR on casualties as they rushed them into waiting ambulances
Politicians and world leaders, including the UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have expressed their condolences
Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his ‘deepest condolences’ and wished for a speedy recovery for those who were injured, while Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said: ‘I ask you to convey my sadness and support to the family and relatives of the deceased miners, and my wish for a speedy recovery for the injured.’
Separately, Turkish police said in a statement that legal action would be taken against 12 people who allegedly shared provocative content about the mine explosion to incite hate on social media.
Yesterday’s blast is one of the deadliest industrial disasters in Turkey’s recent history. Emergency services rushed to the scene and paramedics were pictured appearing to perform CPR on casualties as they rushed them into waiting ambulances.
The country’s worst ever mine disaster was in 2014, when 301 miners died after a fire erupted inside a coal mine in the town of Soma, in the west of the country. Five months later, 18 miners were killed in central Karaman province after a flood in a coal mine.
The head of DISK, a left-wing trade union, said in a statement they were ‘sad and angry’ because deaths were preventable and the union’s safety suggestions were overlooked.
Even though more inspections were mandated after the Soma tragedy, DISK’s leader Arzu Cerkezoglu claimed some precautions were ignored for profitability, calling Friday’s explosion a ‘massacre.’