Twenty-five arrested over Turkish mine disaster
Twenty-five people have been arrested in Turkey following a mining disaster, in which 301 people died.
Those held in custody include the general manager of the Soma mine, Ramazan Dogru, and the mine’s operations manager, Akin Celik, Turkey’s Dogan news agency said.
The bodies of the last missing workers were recovered by rescuers on 17 May, with the final death toll standing at 301.
Energy minister Taner Yildiz said: “The rescue operation was carried out to completion. There are no miners left underground.
“Until today we had focused on search and rescue efforts. Now we will be focusing on investigations, on what will happen about production.”
The disaster, which happened on 13 May, occurred when an explosion sent carbon monoxide into the mine’s tunnels while 787 miners were underground.
The incident has prompted protests against the government and the operators of the coal mine. On 17 May, hundreds of people marched through the western city of Izmir and there were protests in Istanbul and Ankara.
In Soma, local authorities have banned demonstrations, following clashes on 16 May where riot police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons when a protest turned violent.
Soma Holding, the operator of the mine, has insisted the disaster was not caused by negligence. A representative said that an unexplained build-up of heat appeared to have led to the collapse.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticised for appearing insensitive in his reaction to the disaster.
Mr Erdogan and his aide Yusef Yerkel have come under pressure after photos appearing to show them assaulting protesters appeared in the Turkish media.
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Twenty-five arrested over Turkish mine disaster
Twenty-five people have been arrested in Turkey following a mining disaster, in which 301 people died.
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