Landslide in illegal coal mine kills three in southeastern Turkey

ŞIRNAK – Anadolu Agency

The accident came shortly after another mine accident in the same area in which one miner was killed. AA Photo

Three miners, two of them brothers, died in a landslide that took place in an illegal coal mine in the southeastern province of Şırnak on June 11.

Three miners were stuck inside of the illegally operated coal mine after a landslide took place at 3:20 p.m. local time on June 11 in the Toptepe village of Şırnak. The bodies of Selahattin Uçar and brothers Ahmet Baysal and Emin Baysal were taken out of the mine June 12 by rescue teams. The main cause of their deaths will be determined after the autopsies.

Two miners engaged rescue efforts were poisoned by leaked gas in the mine and have also been hospitalized. Their situation was not critical. The Şırnak Governorate said in a statement that an investigation has been opened concerning the incident.

The accident came shortly after another mine accident in the same area in which one miner was killed.
İbrahim Saknak died inside of another illegal mine near Toptepe village on June 3 after a landslide took place.