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| Deadly Turkey blast 'traps hundreds' | Deadly Turkey blast 'traps hundreds' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 17 people have been killed after an explosion and fire at a coal mine in western Turkey, officials say. | At least 17 people have been killed after an explosion and fire at a coal mine in western Turkey, officials say. |
| Hundreds were reported to be trapped underground at the mine in Soma, Manisa province, but Turkish media suggest as many as 157 have died. | |
| A huge rescue operation has begun and some 20 people are reported to have been brought out so far. | |
| Turkish President Abdullah Gul has ordered the regional governor to deploy all resources to rescue the miners. | Turkish President Abdullah Gul has ordered the regional governor to deploy all resources to rescue the miners. |
| They are thought to be 4km (2.4 miles) from the entrance, at a depth of 2km. | They are thought to be 4km (2.4 miles) from the entrance, at a depth of 2km. |
| While it is estimated that 580 workers were underground at the time of the blast, it is thought many of them managed to escape. | While it is estimated that 580 workers were underground at the time of the blast, it is thought many of them managed to escape. |
| Union officials said as the blast occurred at shift changeover time, there was uncertainty about how many miners were still inside, Reuters news agency reports. | Union officials said as the blast occurred at shift changeover time, there was uncertainty about how many miners were still inside, Reuters news agency reports. |
| Large crowds of worried family members gathered near the privately-owned mine. | Large crowds of worried family members gathered near the privately-owned mine. |
| Thick smoke | Thick smoke |
| A senior local official, Mehmet Bahattin Atci, said thick smoke was hampering rescue efforts. | A senior local official, Mehmet Bahattin Atci, said thick smoke was hampering rescue efforts. |
| Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz said it was a "serious accident" and that he was going to Soma to oversee the rescue operation. | Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz said it was a "serious accident" and that he was going to Soma to oversee the rescue operation. |
| He told reporters that the fire had been triggered by an electrical fault. | He told reporters that the fire had been triggered by an electrical fault. |
| He also said that four separate rescue teams were currently working in the mine. | He also said that four separate rescue teams were currently working in the mine. |
| "The fire creates a problem but oxygen is being pumped into the mine shafts that weren't affected," he added. | "The fire creates a problem but oxygen is being pumped into the mine shafts that weren't affected," he added. |
| Before leaving for Manisa, Mr Yildiz told journalists it was too early to be precise about the extent of casualties: "I don't want to give any numbers. We first have to reach our workers underground," | Before leaving for Manisa, Mr Yildiz told journalists it was too early to be precise about the extent of casualties: "I don't want to give any numbers. We first have to reach our workers underground," |
| Analysts say the safety record of Turkey's coal mining industry lags behind that of most industrial nations. | Analysts say the safety record of Turkey's coal mining industry lags behind that of most industrial nations. |
| The country's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when 270 miners were killed near Zonguldak, on the Black Sea. | The country's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when 270 miners were killed near Zonguldak, on the Black Sea. |
| Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Turkey'. | Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Turkey'. |
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