WEB DESK
The death toll from a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey rose to at least 40 people on 15 Oct, Saturday.
The explosion occurred on 14th Oct, Friday evening when at least 110 miners working in the shaft.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Saturday that, 40 miners were confirmed dead. Eleven were injured and hospitalised, while 58 others managed to get out of the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed. The status of one remaining miner was unclear.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said rescue efforts were almost complete. Earlier, Donmez had informed that a fire was still burning in the mine’s gallery where more than a dozen miners had been trapped. Work to isolate and cool the fire continued
Preliminary assessments indicated that the explosion was likely caused by firedamp, which is a reference to flammable gases found in coal mines, Donmez added.
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.