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Deadly Turkey blast 'traps hundreds' Deadly Turkey blast 'traps hundreds'
(about 1 hour later)
Several miners are reported to have been killed after an explosion and a fire at a coal mine in western Turkey. At least 17 people have been killed after an explosion and fire at a coal mine in western Turkey, officials say.
Up to 300 other workers are believed to be trapped underground at the mine in Soma, Manisa province. A further 200 or so other workers are still trapped underground at the mine in Soma, Manisa province.
Those trapped are about 2km (1.2 miles) below the surface and 4km from the mine's exit. A huge rescue operation has been launched and some 20 people are reported to have been brought out so far, 11 of them with injuries.
Search and rescue operations are taking place. It is estimated that 580 workers were underground at the time of the blast, but that many escaped.
Union officials said the blast occurred during a change of shifts, resulting in uncertainty about exactly how many miners were still inside, Reuters news agency reports.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul has ordered the regional governor to deploy all resources to rescue the miners.Turkish President Abdullah Gul has ordered the regional governor to deploy all resources to rescue the miners.
Quoting health officials, local MP Muzaffer Yurttas earlier told broadcaster NTV that 20 bodies had been retrieved and that at least another 20 workers had been taken to hospital. But he said later that four people had been killed. They are thought to be 4km (2.4 miles) from the entrance, at a depth of 2km.
"They died of choking and burns," he said. While it is estimated that 580 workers were underground at the time of the blast, it is thought many of them managed to escape.
A senior local official, Mehmet Bahattin Atci, said thick smoke at the privately owned mine was hampering rescue efforts. Union officials said as the blast occurred at shift changeover time, there was uncertainty about how many miners were still inside, Reuters news agency reports.
Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz is going to Soma to oversee the rescue operation, NTV said. Large crowds of worried family members gathered near the privately-owned mine.
He told reporters that the fire at the mine was triggered by an electrical fault. Thick smoke
Although Mr 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. A senior local official, Mehmet Bahattin Atci, said thick smoke was hampering rescue efforts.
"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. Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz said it was a "serious accident" and that he was going to Soma to oversee the rescue operation.
He told reporters that the fire had been triggered by an electrical fault.
He also said that four separate rescue teams were currently working in the mine.He also said that 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."The fire creates a problem but oxygen is being pumped into the mine shafts that weren't affected," he added.
Before leaving for Manisa, Mr Yildiz told journalists it was too early to be precise about the extent of casualties: "I don't want to give any numbers. We first have to reach our workers underground,"
Analysts say the safety record of Turkey's coal mining industry lags behind that of most industrial nations.Analysts say the safety record of Turkey's coal mining industry lags behind that of most industrial nations.
The country's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when 270 miners were killed near Zonguldak, on the Black Sea.The country's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when 270 miners were killed near Zonguldak, on the Black Sea.
Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Turkey'.Are you in the area? Do you have any information to share? Send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Turkey'.
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