ANKARA
The families of the deceased in Soma coal mine accident will receive financial aid and their children educational support, Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Tuesday, adding that every aspect of the accident is to be thoroughly investigated.
Last Tuesday's Soma coal mine disaster in western Turkey, in which 301 miners died, was discussed in the Turkish Parliament in the capital Ankara.
Yildiz, who coordinated the rescue operations, said “Rescue operations were finalized on Saturday and 486 workers were saved.” 2743 personnel, 258 vehicles and 9 air crafts were used in the rescue mission of Soma coal mine accident, Yildiz added.
“It’s a legal process now. The source of the accident will be found after legal and administrative assessments,” the minister said, adding that prior to the accident many inspections in the mines took place, however the accident proved something else is missing.
Underlining that Turkey uses 102 million tons of coal every year and 80 million tons is produced domestically, Yildiz said the domestic coal production must be carried out without any accidents.
The Soma tragedy was the worst mining disaster in Turkey’s history, surpassing a firedamp explosion in 1992 in which 263 miners in Zonguldak, in the north of Turkey, died.
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