Turkey Coal Mine Blast Turkey: Explosion rocks coal mine in Bartin, 22 die
At least 22 people died as an explosion rocked a coal mine in Turkey's Bartın on Friday evening, media reports said.
The mishap left 17 people hurt and several others are feared to be strapped under debris.
Eight of those who were injured are in critical condition, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca wote on Twitter as quoted by Daily Sabah.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the explosion was caused by a transformer. A suspected firedamp explosion blast occurred at around 6:15 p.m. (1515 GMT) on Friday, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
A total of 110 workers were at the mine at the time of explosion, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
He said 49 of them were in the deeper parts of the mine where the risk is greater.
The explosion took place at a depth of 300 meters (985 feet) inside a coal mine in Amasra.
Rescue teams have managed to pull out 14 miners, while at least 49 are still trapped, according to Bartin Governor Nurtaç Arslan.
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