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More Than 200 Killed and 200 Missing in Turkish Mine Disaster More Than 200 Killed and 200 Missing in Turkish Mine Disaster
(about 3 hours later)
SOMA, Turkey — As hopes began to fade for hundreds of coal miners still trapped underground in a hellish explosion, anti-government protests broke out across the country on Wednesday while victims’ families demanded answers in what is emerging as perhaps the worst industrial accident in the country’s history. SOMA, Turkey — As hopes began to fade for hundreds of coal miners still trapped underground in a hellish explosion, antigovernment protests broke out across the country on Wednesday while victims’ families demanded answers in what is emerging as perhaps the worst industrial accident in the country’s history.
Thousands of people have gathered here in Soma, the nearest town, in hopes of getting news of relatives and friends who are unaccounted for. Their frustrations erupted in a rock-throwing protest in front of the headquarters of the ruling Justice and Development Party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was broken up by the police in clouds of tear gas. Demonstrations also broke out in Ankara, the capital, and in Istanbul. Thousands of people have gathered here in Soma, the nearest town to the mine, in hopes of getting news of relatives and friends who are unaccounted for. Their frustrations erupted in a rock-throwing protest in front of the headquarters of the Justice and Development Party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that was broken up by the police in clouds of tear gas. Demonstrations also broke out in Ankara, the capital, and in Istanbul.
Many relatives of the miners have complained about a lack of information from the government and local emergency agencies. “No official came here to talk to us, explain what’s going on,” Ayse, the aunt of a 25-year old miner, who asked not to be identified by name. Many relatives of the miners have complained about a lack of information from the government and local emergency agencies. “No official came here to talk to us, explain what’s going on,” said the aunt of a 25-year-old miner.
Near the mine entrance, mournful family members watched mostly in silence as rescue workers slowly removed bodies, some of them charred, from the mine’s fiery and poisonous depths. As the rescue operation dragged on, the official death toll rose to 274, and a senior official said hopes of finding survivors were “dimming.” Near the mine entrance, mournful family members watched mostly in silence as rescue workers slowly removed bodies, some of them charred, from the mine’s fiery and poisonous depths. As the rescue operation dragged on, the official death toll rose to 274.
More than 200 miners were thought to be underground still, after an explosion in a power distribution unit on Tuesday afternoon set off a fire that was still burning on Wednesday. The death toll was the highest ever in a Turkish mining disaster, surpassing the 263 workers who died in a gas explosion in at a mine near Zonguldak on the Black Sea in 1992. More than 200 miners were thought to be underground still, after an explosion in a power distribution unit on Tuesday afternoon set off a fire that was still burning on Wednesday. The death toll was the highest seen in a Turkish mining disaster, surpassing the 263 workers who died in a gas explosion at a mine near Zonguldak on the Black Sea in 1992.
“We are worried that this death toll will rise,” the energy minister, Taner Yildiz, told reporters in Soma, 75 miles northeast of the Aegean port of Izmir. “I have to say that our hopes are dimming in terms of the rescue efforts.” “We are worried that this death toll will rise,” the energy minister, Taner Yildiz, told reporters in Soma, about 75 miles northeast of the Aegean port of Izmir.
“We are dealing with an incident that might result with the highest worker loss ever in Turkey,” Mr. Yildiz said, according to Turkish news reports. “We still want to hope that miners have found small caves to hide in to breathe and survive.” Mr. Yildiz said on Tuesday that 787 workers were listed as being in the mine, but because of a shift change that was underway when the explosion happened, the exact number still trapped was uncertain.
Mr. Erdogan canceled a trip to Albania to visit the scene of the disaster and express sympathy to the families of the dead. “We as a nation of 77 million are experiencing a very great pain,” he told a news conference afterward. “We are dealing with an incident that might result with the highest worker loss ever in Turkey,” Mr. Yildiz said on Wednesday, according to Turkish news reports. Mr. Erdogan canceled a trip to Albania to visit the scene of the disaster and express sympathy to the families of the dead. “We as a nation of 77 million are experiencing a very great pain,” he said at a news conference afterward.
In the face of criticism from opponents and families of the miners, though, the often thin-skinned leader grew testy. “Explosions like this in these mines happen all the time,” he said. “It’s not like these don’t happen elsewhere in the world.”In the face of criticism from opponents and families of the miners, though, the often thin-skinned leader grew testy. “Explosions like this in these mines happen all the time,” he said. “It’s not like these don’t happen elsewhere in the world.”
The government’s critics say it has long had a cozy relationship with mining interests and as recently as two weeks ago defeated an effort to establish a parliamentary commission to address safety issues in the coal industry. The government’s critics say it has long had a cozy relationship with mining interests, and as recently as two weeks ago it defeated an effort to establish a parliamentary commission to address safety issues in the coal industry.
The dirt road leading here would normally be used by trucks loaded with tons of coal. On Wednesday, however, military police had set up a cordon and it resembled a huge parking lot for ambulances, police vehicles and private cars. The dirt road leading here would normally be used by trucks loaded with tons of coal. On Wednesday, however, military police had set up a cordon, and it resembled a parking lot for ambulances, police vehicles and private cars.
Miners with hard hats, their clothes smeared in dirt and dust, wiped sweat and grime from their faces as they walked away from the rescue site, looking exhausted and overwhelmed. Miners in hard hats, their clothes smeared with dirt and dust, wiped sweat and grime from their faces as they walked away from the rescue site, looking exhausted and overwhelmed.
“We came here as soon as we heard about an explosion,” said a 28-year-old miner whose cousin was trapped inside. “We saved many but most of the stranded were dead. I don’t want to say more.” The miner refused to give his name because he said he needed approval from his employer. “We came here as soon as we heard about an explosion,” said a 28-year-old miner whose cousin was trapped inside. “We saved many, but most of the stranded were dead. I don’t want to say more.” The miner refused to give his name because he said he needed approval from his employer.
Some of them confirmed officials’ fears about further fatalities. Some of the miners confirmed officials’ fears about further fatalities.
“Even after only two sections, where machines and people operated together, were emptied, the death toll is still higher than what has been announced,” said Ertan Yildiz, a miner who has been assisting emergency workers. “There are other sections where we entirely rely on manpower and have no idea how many people were stuck there at time of the blast.”“Even after only two sections, where machines and people operated together, were emptied, the death toll is still higher than what has been announced,” said Ertan Yildiz, a miner who has been assisting emergency workers. “There are other sections where we entirely rely on manpower and have no idea how many people were stuck there at time of the blast.”
By Wednesday, 360 workers had been brought to safety by hundreds of rescuers, including some miners who had survived the explosion, according to the semiofficial Anadolu News Agency. But some parts of the facility remained inaccessible.By Wednesday, 360 workers had been brought to safety by hundreds of rescuers, including some miners who had survived the explosion, according to the semiofficial Anadolu News Agency. But some parts of the facility remained inaccessible.
“Even with a gas mask, it is hard to survive,” Sami Kilic, a miner who has been working at the Soma mine for nine years, told the news channel CNN Turk. “When a power distribution unit explodes, power goes off; when power goes off, ventilation breaks down; when ventilation breaks down, air circulation stops, and so do chances to live.”“Even with a gas mask, it is hard to survive,” Sami Kilic, a miner who has been working at the Soma mine for nine years, told the news channel CNN Turk. “When a power distribution unit explodes, power goes off; when power goes off, ventilation breaks down; when ventilation breaks down, air circulation stops, and so do chances to live.”
Mr. Kilic said that miners were trained to use gas masks in emergencies on the assumption that they would reach fresh air in 45 minutes.Mr. Kilic said that miners were trained to use gas masks in emergencies on the assumption that they would reach fresh air in 45 minutes.
“We received training as to how to reach up to fresh air in 45 minutes wearing a gas mask,” Mr. Kilic said. “You cannot climb up 1.5 kilometers in 45 minutes.”“We received training as to how to reach up to fresh air in 45 minutes wearing a gas mask,” Mr. Kilic said. “You cannot climb up 1.5 kilometers in 45 minutes.”
Bayram Yilmaz, a 44-year old miner who recently quit working, said the death toll was much higher than officials had announced. “At least 770 people went down, and none of us could yet reach the exact location of the blast,” he said. Bayram Yilmaz, a 44-year-old miner who recently quit working, said the death toll was much higher than officials had announced. “At least 770 people went down, and none of us could yet reach the exact location of the blast,” he said.
“We are not even counting outsiders who come here as part-time, unregistered workers,” Mr. Yilmaz said.“We are not even counting outsiders who come here as part-time, unregistered workers,” Mr. Yilmaz said.
Smoke continued to rise from the entrance to one tunnel. A group of miners halted rescue efforts after they were exposed to intense carbon monoxide from a fire burning 1,300 feet below ground.Smoke continued to rise from the entrance to one tunnel. A group of miners halted rescue efforts after they were exposed to intense carbon monoxide from a fire burning 1,300 feet below ground.
Families sat quietly at the courtyard of a small company building used for training and refused to talk to reporters.Families sat quietly at the courtyard of a small company building used for training and refused to talk to reporters.
“Leave us alone to feel our pain!” said one tearful man with red-rimmed eyes. “We need information. When will someone come and talk to us?”“Leave us alone to feel our pain!” said one tearful man with red-rimmed eyes. “We need information. When will someone come and talk to us?”
Hours after the explosion, rescuers could be seen in video images from the mine pulling the dead and wounded to the surface as smoke rose over the scene. Miners with blackened faces were helped out of the mine.Hours after the explosion, rescuers could be seen in video images from the mine pulling the dead and wounded to the surface as smoke rose over the scene. Miners with blackened faces were helped out of the mine.
President Abdullah Gul put off a trip to China scheduled for Thursday to travel to Soma.President Abdullah Gul put off a trip to China scheduled for Thursday to travel to Soma.
The political ramifications of the accident are not clear but there are already stirrings of complaint that Turkey’s rush to prosperity has left many behind to face perilous labor conditions. In Istanbul’s Taksim Square, Reuters reported, two left-wing opposition newspaper vendors read out headlines to commuters. “Turkey is a graveyard for workers,” one said, and “This wasn’t an accident, this was negligence.” The political ramifications of the accident are not clear, but there are already stirrings of complaint that Turkey’s rush to prosperity has left many behind to face perilous labor conditions. In Istanbul’s Taksim Square, Reuters reported, two left-wing opposition newspaper vendors read out headlines to commuters. “Turkey is a graveyard for workers,” one said, and, “This wasn’t an accident, this was negligence.”
The rescuers sought to save those still trapped by pumping oxygen into the mine. Thousands of family members and fellow miners gathered at the nearest hospital. The precise number of miners still underground was unclear. Mr. Yildiz said on Tuesday that 787 workers were listed as being in the mine, but because of a shift change that was underway when the explosion happened, the exact number still trapped was uncertain. As the death toll mounted, rescuers used a cold-storage warehouse and freezer trucks as makeshift morgues, news reports said.
As the death toll mounted, rescuers used a cold storage warehouse and freezer trucks as makeshift morgues, news reports said.