Turkey extends condolences to Russia over deadly coal mine accident

“We follow with sadness the news that many people lost their lives and there are many others still trapped underground after the mining accidents which occurred in the Severnaya coal mine located in the Komi Republic, in the northern part of the Russian Federation,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement released late on Feb. 28.

Relations between Russia and Turkey have been strained since Ankara shot down a Russian Su-24M jet fighter on Nov. 24, 2015, accusing Moscow of violating Turkish airspace along the border with Syria – an allegation repeatedly denied by Russia. 

“We convey our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives and to the Russian people, and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. We hope that the miners and the rescue workers still underground due to the explosions will be rescued safe and sound as soon as possible,” the Foreign Ministry said.

A methane gas leak at the coal mine in Russia’s far north triggered three explosions that ignited fires and caused part of the mine to collapse, killing 36 people, Russian officials said Feb. 28.

The dead included five rescue workers and a mine worker who were killed early Feb. 28 when a third explosion rocked the Severnaya mine in Vorkuta, a town north of the Arctic Circle in the Komi region, emergency services said.