Death Toll Rises to 301 in Turkey’s Deadliest Workplace Disaster

On Saturday, the last bodies of workers killed in Turkey’s deadliest industrial disaster were recovered from the mine in Soma, raising the official death toll to 301. A fire which broke out in the mines early Saturday morning burned 17 of the remaining bodies, requiring them to undergo DNA testing in order to be identified. Despite accusations of negligence, Soma Holding, the company which owns the mine, still insists that it was a “first-class workplace”. As of now, 24 suspects, including Soma Holding executives, the coal mine’s general manager and operations manager have been detained by police. Three of these 24 suspects are currently facing charges of multiple deaths caused by Tuesday’s disaster. While Turkish citizens are pleased that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions, this incident has raised tensions in the country. Prime Minister Erdogan, in yet another display of arrogance, was spotted taunting protesters gathered outside the mine in Soma who question his leadership in light of this, and other workplace disasters which have taken place in Turkey since his taking office.

Turkey’s Deadliest Workplace Disaster

On Tuesday, an explosion at a coal mine in Soma, Turkey created a fire which trapped hundreds of workers underground. With as many as 200 still trapped inside, any hope of finding more survivors is beginning to diminish. So far, 245 have been confirmed dead, and all autopsies performed up to this time show carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death. One of the victims is believed to be a fifteen year old boy which has, among other things, raised concerns about the conditions in Turkish coal mines. It is speculated the explosion was caused by a faulty power transformer. The Labor and Social Security Ministry of Turkey insists the mine had been inspected five times since 2012, the last inspection being in March of this year. Although no safety violations were reported, there are claims workers’ complaints to management regarding conditions in the mine have been ignored for quite some time. The mine is owned by Soma Holding and today, protests provoked by the disaster have erupted outside its headquarters in Istanbul. Protestors have also gathered in Ankana, the capital, to express their extreme disapproval of the country’s safety regulations and of the actions of their Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After a previous mining disaster in Turkey killed 30 workers in May 2010, Erdogan was less than sympathetic when he stated it was the “profession’s fate”.

Prime Minister Erdogan

It is unclear how many have been rescued as reports from news sources vary wildly; However, at least 88 rescues have been confirmed. The exact number of workers in the mine at the time of the explosion is also unknown, as it took place during a change in shifts, but is estimated to be 787. Rescue at this point is nearly impossible due to high levels of carbon monoxide, the possibility of fire still raging in the mine, and power outage caused by the explosion which has made the elevator useless. Until the gas disperses and the fire is extinguished, rescue efforts can not continue. In the meantime, rescue crews are pumping oxygen into the mines in an attempt to sustain survivors until help arrives. The mines are equip with emergency chambers that are stocked with gas masks and oxygen. It is possible some of the workers unaccounted for have sought refuge inside. No matter the fate of those still missing, this has now become Turkey’s deadliest workplace disaster.