Coal Mine Explosion in Turkey Kills Over 200 Workers

World Today

An explosion and a fire Tuesday killed workers at a coal mine in western Turkey and trapped several others underground, the country’s disaster agency said as it launched a massive rescue operation.

It was not immediately clear how many more miners were still trapped in the coal mine in the town of Soma, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Istanbul. Turkey’s energy minister says death toll in mine accident stands at 238

Authorities say the disaster followed an explosion and fire caused by a power distribution center. There are different versions on the number of casualties.  The accident occurred during a shift change so the exact number of trapped workers was not known. Authorities had said the blast left between 200 to 300 miners underground but the disaster agency later gave the number as “more than 200 workers.” CCTV’s Natalie Carney has these details.

 

Coal Mine Explosion in Turkey Kills Over 100 Workers

An explosion and a fire Tuesday killed workers at a coal mine in western Turkey and trapped several others underground, the country's disaster agency said as it launched a massive rescue operation. CCTV's Natalie Carney has the details.