Death toll due to coal mine blast in northern Türkiye rises to 41: Turkish president

BARTIN, TÜRKİYE - OCTOBER 15: The number of workers who were killed in a blast at a coal mine in northern Türkiye increased to 41, Turkish president said on Saturday, Oct. 15. Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that all miners who were previously trapped underground are reached out at last by search and rescue teams. A total of 11 wounded workers are under treatment in hospitals, among them four are in Bartin in particular. Türkiye mobilized all its institutions after coal mine blast, he emphasized while extending his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. The investigation to figure out how this incident took place and who the people responsible are is underway, he underscored. “We no longer want to see any deficiencies or unnecessary risks in our mines,” he stated. Türkiye is making any and all necessary efforts to “bury mining accidents in history” by “using all the capabilities of technology,” Turkish president noted. “As a state, we will determine the assistance and support we need to do at our cabinet meeting immediately and we will take regarding steps.” Erdogan canceled a planned trip to eastern Diyarbakir province and instead travelled Saturday to Amasra. He had said in a tweet that search and rescue operations are progressing “rapidly” at the mine. (Footage by Sıtkı İlanbey/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)