Turkey: 25 dead from the explosion in a coal mine in Amasra

The tragic toll rises from the explosion that occurred in the afternoon in a coal mine in the city of Amasrain the northern province of Bartin Turkeyas according to a more recent report released by the Minister of Health, Fahetin Koca, at least 25 people were killed.

Alongside, 28 people have been injuredwith 11 of them being hospitalized, while the number of those trapped remains unspecified in the galleries of the mine.

It is estimated that about 110 workers were inside the mine at the time of the explosion.

Throughout the night rescuers made frantic efforts to locate those trapped.

The explosion occurred at a depth of 300 meters from the mine entrance in the town of Amasra, around 18:15 on Friday afternoon.

In the footage broadcast by Turkish television channels, relatives of the miners watch the efforts of the rescuers. Some workers were extricated and taken on stretchers to ambulances.

Many ambulances and rescue crews went to the scene. The Minister of Energy, Fatih Donmez, as well as the Minister of the Interior, Suleyman Soylu, went to Amasra, following the order of President Erdogan.

“We are facing a sad situation,” Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled his scheduled meetings to travel to the region today. In a post on Twitter, he expressed the hope that the death toll does not rise further and that the miners who remain trapped in the galleries are freed safe and sound.

“There was dust and smoke, I don’t know what happened” said a rescued coal mine worker.

The mine is owned by state-owned Turkish Hard Coal Entrprises, according to Turkey’s Disaster Management Authority (AFAD).

The Bardin General Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the accidentwhich was undertaken by three prosecutors.