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| Turkey coal mine disaster: Desperate search at Soma pit | Turkey coal mine disaster: Desperate search at Soma pit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rescuers are hunting desperately for scores of Turkish coal miners still missing after an explosion caused a pit to collapse, killing at least 232. | |
| Dozens escaped the pit in Soma, 450km (280 miles) from Ankara, but officials say more than 200 are unaccounted for. | Dozens escaped the pit in Soma, 450km (280 miles) from Ankara, but officials say more than 200 are unaccounted for. |
| Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the mine after announcing three days of mourning for what will be Turkey's most deadly mining disaster. | |
| Frantic relatives have gathered at the mine, waiting for news of loved ones. | Frantic relatives have gathered at the mine, waiting for news of loved ones. |
| As ambulances took away an increasing number of bodies, some of the bereaved wailed uncontrollably and were carried away by their families. | As ambulances took away an increasing number of bodies, some of the bereaved wailed uncontrollably and were carried away by their families. |
| Meanwhile, protesters angry at the disaster took to the streets of Istanbul and Ankara on Wednesday. | |
| There were reports of clashes between police and dozens of demonstrators in both cities. | |
| Far below ground | |
| Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said 787 people had been inside the mine when an electrical fault triggered the blast. | Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said 787 people had been inside the mine when an electrical fault triggered the blast. |
| More than 200 are still thought to be in the mine, but he said hopes were fading of finding any more survivors. | More than 200 are still thought to be in the mine, but he said hopes were fading of finding any more survivors. |
| He added that carbon monoxide poisoning had claimed many lives. Oxygen was being pumped into the mine to help those still trapped. | He added that carbon monoxide poisoning had claimed many lives. Oxygen was being pumped into the mine to help those still trapped. |
| The electrical fault triggered a power cut, making the mine cages unusable. Those trapped are reported to be 2km (1.2 miles) below the surface and 4km from the mine entrance. | The electrical fault triggered a power cut, making the mine cages unusable. Those trapped are reported to be 2km (1.2 miles) below the surface and 4km from the mine entrance. |
| The blast happened at about 12:30 GMT on Tuesday. | The blast happened at about 12:30 GMT on Tuesday. |
| TV footage overnight 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 overnight 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. |
| But by mid-morning, reporters at the scene said only the dead were being recovered. | But by mid-morning, reporters at the scene said only the dead were being recovered. |
| Police were keeping the crowds back to allow emergency services in and out of the area. | Police were keeping the crowds back to allow emergency services in and out of the area. |
| Sena Isbiler, a mother of one of the miners, stood on top of piles of wood, anxiously craning her neck to see those being led out of the mine. | Sena Isbiler, a mother of one of the miners, stood on top of piles of wood, anxiously craning her neck to see those being led out of the mine. |
| "I have been waiting for my son since early afternoon," she told AFP news agency. "I haven't heard anything about him yet." | "I have been waiting for my son since early afternoon," she told AFP news agency. "I haven't heard anything about him yet." |
| The mine's owners, Soma Komur Isletmeleri, said they would investigate the accident, adding that the accident occurred despite the "highest safety measures and constant controls". | The mine's owners, Soma Komur Isletmeleri, said they would investigate the accident, adding that 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. |
| Coal mining is a major industry in the Soma area, helping to supply a nearby lignite-fired thermal power plant, but safety has long been a concern. | Coal mining is a major industry in the Soma area, helping to supply a nearby lignite-fired thermal power plant, but safety has long been a concern. |
| An MP with Turkey's opposition CHP party has accused the government of rejecting a recent proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into mine accidents in Soma. | An MP with Turkey's opposition CHP party has accused the government of rejecting a recent proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into mine accidents in Soma. |
| Ozgur Ozel told Today's Zaman newspaper that the motion had substantial support among opposition parties. | Ozgur Ozel told Today's Zaman newspaper that the motion had substantial support among opposition parties. |
| Turkey's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when 270 miners were killed near Zonguldak, on the Black Sea. | Turkey's worst mining disaster was in 1992, when 270 miners were killed near Zonguldak, on the Black Sea. |
| Are you in Manisa? How have you been affected by the explosion? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Turkey'. | Are you in Manisa? How have you been affected by the explosion? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Turkey'. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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