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Turkey coal mine explosion: Death toll soars Turkey coal mine explosion: Death toll soars
(35 minutes later)
An explosion at a mine in western Turkey has left 151 workers dead and scores injured, officials say.An explosion at a mine in western Turkey has left 151 workers dead and scores injured, officials say.
The blast, followed by a fire, occurred at a coal mine near the town of Soma in Manisa province. Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz said 787 people had been inside the mine at Soma in Manisa province when an electrical fault triggered the blast.
A huge rescue operation is under way to reach hundreds more trapped miners, and oxygen is being pumped into the mine. A huge rescue operation is under way to reach hundreds more miners still trapped underground.
Large crowds of worried relatives have gathered near the privately owned mine, about 450km (280 miles) west of the capital Ankara. Worried relatives have gathered near the privately owned mine, about 450km (280 miles) west of the capital Ankara.
Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz confirmed the latest death toll on Turkish TV and said some 76 people were injured. Mr Yildiz confirmed the latest death toll on Turkish TV and said some 76 people had been injured.
He said 787 people had been inside the mine at the time of the accident but only 363 of them - including those killed - had been accounted for. He said that of the workers inside the mine at the time of the accident, only 363 of them - including those killed - had been accounted for.
Mr Yildiz said that carbon monoxide poisoning could have claimed lives. He added that the fire had been triggered by an electrical fault. Mr Yildiz said that carbon monoxide poisoning had claimed many lives. Oxygen was being pumped into the mine to help those still trapped, he added.
The explosion happened more than a mile underground and the electrical fault triggered a power cut, making the mine cages unusable.
The mayor of Manisa city earlier said 157 people had died, following initial reports that put the death toll at just 17.The mayor of Manisa city earlier said 157 people had died, following initial reports that put the death toll at just 17.
It is believed the explosion happened more than a mile underground.
TV footage showed rescuers helping workers from the mine, their faces and hard-hats covered in soot and dust. Some were carried on stretchers to waiting ambulances.TV footage showed rescuers helping workers from the mine, their faces and hard-hats covered in soot and dust. Some were carried on stretchers to waiting ambulances.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has postponed a trip to Albania over the accident and is to visit Soma instead, his office said.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has postponed a trip to Albania over the accident and is to visit Soma instead, his office said.
The mine's owners, Soma Komur Isletmeleri, would said an investigation was under way but the accident occurred despite the "highest safety measures and constant controls". The mine's owners, Soma Komur Isletmeleri, said an investigation was under way but the accident occurred despite the "highest safety measures and constant controls".
"Our main priority is to get our workers out so that they may be reunited with their loved ones," the owners said in a statement."Our main priority is to get our workers out so that they may be reunited with their loved ones," the owners said in a statement.
Analysts say the safety record of Turkey's coal mines lags behind that of most industrial nations.Analysts say the safety record of Turkey's coal mines 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.