Police use tear gas and water cannon against thousands of demonstrators protesting against the deaths of almost 300 people in Turkey’s worst ever mining disaster.
People were forced into side streets in Soma, as police intervened to thwart their demonstration in the centre of the town.
Anger is growing in Turkey following Tuesday’s explosion, with the mine’s owners accused of putting profit before safety and Tayyip Erdogan’s government perceived as too close to industry tycoons and too lax in enforcing regulations.
The owner of the mine denied negligence and said he still did not not know the exact cause of the accident.
At least 282 people were confirmed dead on Thursday, mostly from carbon monoxide poisoning, and hopes were fading of pulling out any more alive.
The chairman of the mine operator Soma Holding, Alp Gurkan, said on Friday that the disaster was “unbelievable” and said the mine had a good safety record.
Mr Gurkan said that the fire was not linked to an electricity sub-station, but that the build-up of heat had caused a partial collapse of the mine. He confirmed that 787 workers were in the mine when the fire broke out.
We still do not know how the accident happened. There is no negligence of ours in this incident. Plant manager Akin Celik
“It was an unbelievable accident in a place where there have been very few accidents in 30 years,” said Mr Gurkan. “A mine with top level miners, accepted as being the most trustworthy and organised.”
The mine’s operator also said there was no negligence on the part of the company. He said: “We still do not know how the accident happened. There is no negligence of ours in this incident.
“We all worked heart and soul,” said Akin Celik, the plants managers.
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The death toll from the mining accident in western Turkey is unlikely to be more than 302 people, Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Friday.
“The latest data in our hand is 284 people lost their lives, 18 people are still trapped inside and 77 million are mourning. This is the most up to date data that we have,” Mr Yildiz told reporters.
“In the mine, underground, the maximum amount of miners trapped is 18. The total number (death toll) will be 301. We do not think that will exceed 302 and this will be the final number for the mine,” he added.
Relatives at the site said the wait for news was unbearable.
“Everybody is waiting to see their loved ones who are trapped there, dead or wounded. They say only a section has fresh air. They built a barrage and they say only that section is suitable for working. We cannot even go to the restroom, thinking what if I see him now? What if I see him?” said the uncle of a missing miner.
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The father of another missing miner said he had been told there was still a large number of men underground.
“The head of the team told me there are 250 more people trapped inside. I want them to find my boy as soon as possible.. dead or alive.. so we can leave,” said Orhan Korkmaz.
Turkey’s safety record in coal mining has been poor for decades, with its previous worst accident in 1992, when a gas blast killed 263 workers in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak.
Anger swept across Turkey on Friday. The country has experienced a decade of rapid economic growth under Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan‘s Islamist-rooted government but still suffers from one of the world’s worst records of workplace safety.
The uncle of one missing miner said he was frustrated by the rescue operation.
“I have a relative there. My nephew is there. I have not been able to get any information for three days. The prime minister has come. The president has come. I keep quiet but we are not happy with the rescue work that is carried out here. They keep saying there is a fire,” Mr Mehmet said.