Rescue teams reached the body of the last worker trapped after a blast at a coal mine in northern Türkiye, bringing the death toll from the accident to 41, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday. At least 110 miners were working in the shaft when the explosion occurred on Friday evening.
President Erdogan, who canceled a planned trip to Diyarbakır province and instead visited the incident site in the town of Amasra, said the search and rescue operation is complete.
According to Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez, initial findings indicate the blast was caused by firedamp, an explosive mixture of flammable gases in mines.
A total of 11 wounded workers are under treatment in hospitals.
Erdoğan said Türkiye mobilized all its resources after the blast, and extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Investigation launched
An investigation into the incident is underway, Erdoğan said, adding: "We no longer want to see any deficiencies or unnecessary risks in our mines."Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ also said yesterday that five prosecturos had launched an inquiry into the incident to investigate the mine blast.
"This event will be investigated and clarified with all its aspects. No matter how many questions there are in the minds, they will all be answered," Bozdağ said.Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said Sunday that all the operations at the mine site have been suspended until further notice.
'Structural changes'
Türkiye is making all-out efforts to end such incidents with the help of advanced technology, the Turkish president said. "I believe our domestic and national means will be sufficient to provide the structural change we need in this regard," he added.
"At our Cabinet meeting, we will immediately determine the assistance and support needed and will take the necessary steps." The blast is one of the deadliest industrial disasters in Türkiye's recent history. In 2014, 301 people were killed in Türkiye's worst mining disaster at a coal mine in the Aegean province of Manisa.
Condolences offered
"Please accept our deepest condolences regarding the tragic consequences of the accident," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a message to Erdoğan.
Putin conveyed his sadness and support to the families and relatives of the injured, wishing for a speedy recovery.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also conveyed his condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, and wished recovery to the wounded.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said "our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families and the Turkish people." Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko also sent a message to Erdoğan, and said: "I ask you to convey my sadness and support to the family and relatives of the deceased miners, and my wish for a speedy recovery for the injured." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Nechirvan Barzani, head of northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government, also sent messages to Erdoğan, conveying condolences to the victims' families and loved ones, and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured miners.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid said,"Israel stands with Türkiye in the aftermath of the horrible tragedy," adding that he conveyed to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu "our condolences to the victims' families and wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured."
"I also offered Israel's assistance at this difficult time," he said on Twitter, sharing emojis of Turkish and Israeli flags.
Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said "Greece is ready to send immediate support to assist in the search and rescue efforts."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he "learned with deep sadness" the news that a mining explosion occurred in the Amasra district of Bartın.
"I offer my condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Zelenskyy said on Twitter in Turkish.
European Council President Charles Michel expressed sadness over the incident on Twitter. "Saddened by the tragic loss of life in the #Bartin coal mine in Türkiye," Michel wrote.
"My sympathies go out to the families who have lost loved ones, and to the entire community as they come together in this moment of grief. Every best wish to the survivors and rescue workers," he added.
Also, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent his condolences to Türkiye late Saturday.
"The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by the explosion at a coal mine in Amasra, Türkiye," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
"He sends his condolences to the families of the victims as well as the Government and people of the Republic of Türkiye," it added.
Marija Pejcinovic Buric, the secretary-general of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, said on Twitter, she was "deeply saddened" by the mine explosion in Türkiye, and offered "sincere condolences to the people and to the leadership of Türkiye." In his condolence note, Oliver Varhelyi, the European commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement, said "We stand ready to help Türkiye."
"The explosion in a mine in Bartın, Türkiye has caused a terrible loss of life and many injuries," said British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. "My thoughts, and those of the U.K., are with all those affected by this awful tragedy. Türkiye remains a strong partner and ally on the world stage."
Algeria, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Malta, Finland, Spain, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Gine Bissau, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and Chile also expressed condolences in separate messages.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took to Twitter on Saturday evening to express his gratitude to the international community for their solidarity with Türkiye over the mine blast that killed 41 workers.
"On behalf of the Turkish nation, I would like express our gratitude to all the friendly countries, their peoples and international organizations for sharing our grief and expressing solidarity," President Erdoğan stated.
The United States Embassy in Ankara conveyed condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Condolences poured in from the foreign ministries of Pakistan, Oman, Jordan, Serbia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well. Sympathies were also expressed by the embassies of Ukraine, Italy, the United Kingdom, Greece and France in Ankara.
Addressing Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoğlu, French counterpart Catherine Colonna tweeted "sincere condolence for the tragic loss of so many lives in Bartın. My sympathies go out to the families of the victims."
"We are saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the mine explosion in Bartin," U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Twitter yesterday, adding: "We send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and our wishes for a full recovery to those injured."
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, and Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde also issued condolence statements for the families and loved ones of the victims, and wished a quick recovery to the injured.
In addition, Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos conveyed his condolences to his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar for the mining accident. Akar and Panagiotopoulos had met at NATO Headquarters in recent days and gave a "dialogue" message during the heightened tension in the Aegean.
North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, and Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde also issued condolence statements for the families and loved ones of the victims, and wished a quick recovery to the injured.
In addition, Greek Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos conveyed his condolences to his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar for the mining accident. Akar and Panagiotopoulos had met at NATO Headquarters in recent days and gave a "dialogue" message during the heightened tension in the Aegean.