Soma mine death toll rises 301 as last bodies retrieved

The death toll of Soma mine disaster in Turkey has reached 301 after two more bodies were found.

The government has called a halt to the rescue operation as the bodies of all miners trapped after the mine collapsed are now thought to be recovered.

Protesters have clashed with police near Soma. Correspondents say more than 30 people, including several lawyers, have been arrested.

Demonstrations were held elsewhere over Turkey’s worst-ever mine disaster.

Hundreds of people marched through the western city of Izmir and there were protests in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara.

“The rescue operation was carried out to completion. There are no miners left underground,” Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Saturday.

“Until today we had focused on search and rescue efforts. Now we will be focusing on investigations, on what will happen about production.”

“We won’t be leaving (Soma) because the search efforts are ending,” Taner Yildiz, said, according to Associated Press.

“There will be psychological and social support.”

The local authorities have banned demonstrations in the Soma town centre. On Friday riot police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon when a protest briefly turned violent there.

Police have reportedly been stopping coach-loads of protesters from entering Soma and several lawyers linked to Turkey’s opposition movement have been arrested.

Tuesday’s disaster occurred when an explosion sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine’s tunnels while 787 miners were underground.

Mine operator Soma Holding has denied any negligence. A representative said an unexplained build-up of heat in the mine appeared to have caused the collapse.

There have been several anti-government protests across the country over the last four days.

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticised for appearing insensitive in his reaction to the disaster.