By Talia Kayali, Gul Tuysuz and Michael Martinez, CNN
updated 10:32 PM EDT, Tue May 13, 2014
(CNN) — A fire caused by a transformer explosion in a coal mine in western Turkey killed 201 people, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters early Wednesday.
The Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate said 80 injured people have been rescued and eight uninjured people were rescued. Crowds gathered around the rescue operation in the post-midnight darkness Wednesday.
Earlier, Manisa Mayor Cengiz Ergun told CNN Turk that the death toll was 157. CNN Turk aired the rescue of one miner to a cheering crowd.
More than 200 workers were still stranded late Tuesday, according to preliminary findings by Turkey’s Manisa Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate.
Categories: Europe and Australia, Turkey
An unnecessary tragedy which could have been avoided had those responsible for the transformer done their job. We sympathize with the families of the victims.