Those trapped are about 1.2 miles below the surface and 2.5 miles from the mine’s exit.
Search and rescue operations are taking place in Manisa province. It is estimated that 580 workers were underground at the time, but that many escaped.
Quoting health officials, local lawmaker Muzaffer Yurttas told broadcaster NTV that 20 bodies had been retrieved and that at least another 20 workers had been taken to hospital. He said later that four people had been killed.
“They died of choking and burns,” he said.
A senior local official, Mehmet Bahattin Atci, said thick smoke at the privately owned mine was hampering rescue efforts.
Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz is going to Soma to oversee the rescue operation, NTV said.
Although Taner Yıldız mentioned “casualties” in his first statement after the accident, he warned that the death tolls reported in the press could be “misleading”, Hurriyet newspaper reported.
“Various numbers can be reported. I don’t want to give any numbers. We first have to reach our workers underground,” he told journalists before leaving for Manisa.
He also said 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.
Analysts say the safety record of Turkey’s coal mining industry lags behind that of most industrial nations.
10xZ5pU_6Y0At least 158 people have died in Spain's worst flooding disaster in generations. On October…
Google has been fined two undecillion (a two followed by 36 zeroes) roubles by a…
Embarking on a home remodel is an exciting journey, promising enhanced comfort, increased property value,…
The US presidential candidates continued to campaign across key swing states on October 20. Footage…
Elon Musk has said he will give away $1 million a day to a registered…
India and Canada have decided to expel their top envoys along with other diplomats as…