Death toll reaches 301 as mine rescue ends

2014-05-18 11:45:08

MANİSA (DİHA) - The number of the miners confirmed officially dead in the Soma mine disaster has reached 301.

The minister of Enery and Natural Resources, Taner Yildiz has given updated information concerning those who have lost their lives in Soma mine disaster and stated that 301 workers died, and 485 workers had been rescued until now. “301 workers have lost their lives. We will hand over the bodies of our 10 workers to their families. There were two workers underground. Their location has been determined. The rescue work has just been started, and the fire has been taken under control”, said Yildiz.

Informing that both administrative and judicial inquiry has been soon started following the accident in addition to all these recovery works, Yildiz added: “Who ever is likely to be negligient in the accident, has to be and will be served a sentence.” Saying that they hold a DNA test  for identification in order not to add to the sufferring of the families, Yildiz added that the whole lists are aired online on the website of AFAD.

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.

(nt)