SIRNAK, Turkey
A worker rescued from a collapsed mine in Turkey’s southeastern Sirnak province died at the hospital on Tuesday afternoon, said Governor Hasan Ipek.
Ibrahim Saknak was trapped under dirt and mud after a collapse occurred in a private coal mine, near Toptepe village, on the outskirts of Mount Cudi.
He was in critical condition when hospitalized at Sirnak State Hospital.
The mine was reportedly employing 20 illegal workers and functioning despite an earlier decision for its closure.
"Unfortunately, worker Ibrahim Saknak was buried under debris of an illegal coal mine that was shut down earlier upon an order from the Ministry of Labour, Turkey's Social Security Institution and our governorate," Governor Hasan Ipek told the press during his visit to the mine.
The governor of Sirnak province maintained that the mine lacked the necessary conditions for job safety.
He added that the Governorate had issued all the necessary warnings to prevent mines from employing people under such conditions.
"Nevertheless, there are still groups of people coming here late at night to work when there is no one around, he said. I'm reiterating my warning. These are not healthy working conditions here, neither in terms of job safety or social security. It is forbidden to work here in order to avoid any further loss of life."
Ipek indicated that another collapse had occurred last year. The people responsible had then been detained and sanctions had been imposed.
He pledged that they will launch new legal proceedings against the owners of the mine.
All the mines are being thoroughly audited during June following the country’s worst mining disaster in mid-May.
On May 13, an explosion caused a fire in a coal mine in western Soma district which claimed the lives of 301 miners, making it the deadliest mining accident in the Turkish history.
