Mine Explosion: At Least 200 Workers Trapped Underground

An explosion caused a blaze in a mine pit in the western district of Soma, Manisa, leaving around 200 to 300 workers trapped underground. It turned out that the mine pit belonged to a private company. 

Around 5:45 pm local time, Soma Distict Governor Mehmet Bahattin Atçı spoke to a TV network, saying that at least 1 worker died in the incident while 20 were saved alive.

According to various news sources, the incident occured due to an explosion at the mine's transformer station. it was said that the explosion took place around 3:30 pm local time, leaving all shift workers trapped underground. (EKN/BM) (To be continued)

* Photo credit: Soner Övümlü / AA

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.