An explosion in a northern Turkey coal mine resulted in the death of 28 miners while dozens are still stranded underground.
The explosion happened at the state-owned TTK Amasra Muessese Mudurlugu mine in Amasra, a town in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin.
According to Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca’s initial report, a blast occurred at a coal mine that took the life of 28 while 11 others were pulled out alive and shifted to hospital.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters that at least 110 workers were working in the mine at the time of the blast.
According to BBC report, Soylu further reported that the explosion is believed to have occurred at around 300m deep. Some 49 people were working in the “risky” zone between 300 and 350m (985 to 1,150ft) underground.
According to Energy Minister Fatih Donmez, a preliminary investigation revealed that the explosion was most likely caused by firedamp, a term for flammable gases found in coal mines.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit the site on Saturday.
Earlier in 2014, Turkey experienced its deadliest coal mining tragedy, with 301 people killed after a massive explosion in the western town of Soma.
