Officials say death toll from explosion at mine in western Turkey likely to be around 300, but some say more are trapped.
The final death toll from Turkey‘s mine disaster will likely be around 300, government officials have said, though furious locals say the authorities are covering up far greater loss of life. According to the latest official numbers, the number killed in Monday’s explosion and fire at the mine in western Turkey stands at 284. The energy minister, Taner Yildiz, said on Friday that 18 miners were still missing.
But one miner who works at the pit in Soma who wished to remain anonymous sdisputed the energy minister’s claim: “This is disgraceful, an incredible lie. They are trying to cover up the exact numbers of the accident. I have been down there. There are more than 18 bodies still trapped in the mine.”