238 dead in Turkey coal mine disaster
The death toll in a coal mine disaster in western Turkey has risen to 238, the country’s prime minister said.
Recep Teyyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the accident would be “investigated thoroughly”.
At least 80 others have been injured while 120 remain trapped inside the mine in the town of Soma.
“The accident is being investigated thoroughly. We will not allow any negligence,” Erdogan said after visiting the site of the mine explosion in the town, about 250km south of Istanbul.
Authorities said that most of the deaths in Tuesday’s explosion were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The energy minister said about 400 workers were involved in the rescue operation.
Television footage showed people cheering and applauding as some trapped workers emerged out of the mine, helped by rescuers, their faces and hard-hats covered in soot, Aljazeera reports.
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