Parents reveal that young victim of Soma disaster was 19, not 15

MANİSA

The parents of Cemal Yıldız, one of the victims of the deadly mine accident in Soma who was reported to be 15 years old, have said their son was 19 years old but “looked young.”

Reports that a child miner was working in the mine drew huge controversy, with both the energy minister and the labor minister denying such a possibility.

The family, who was preparing to bury their son, showed private broadcaster Kanal D their son’s identification card. They also said the uncle who initially told reporters that Yıldız was 15 years old was mistaken because their son looked physically very young.

Energy Minister Taner Yıldız told Hürriyet that employing a 15-year-old in mines was “impossible,” adding that he would resign if this was proven correct.

For his part, Labor Minister Faruk Çelik said his ministry would launch an investigation over the claims, adding that records at the mining company would be inspected.