An explosion at a coal mine in northern Turkey killed at least 40 people and left 11 others in hospital, state media reported on Saturday.
The explosion occurred on Friday in the Black Sea town of Amasra in Bartin province, trapping dozens under the debris of the explosion.
Eleven injured workers were taken to hospitals, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported, citing a statement from the country’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.
Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said the fire that broke out after the explosion was largely under control, Anadolu reported.
Rescuers worked through the night as the death toll rose, with videos from the scene showing miners blackened and bleary-eyed.
There were 110 people in the mine at the time of the explosion, said Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu, who traveled to Amasra to coordinate the search and rescue operation.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the explosion.
“We are doing our best to ensure that the injured recover as soon as possible,” Koca told reporters.
“I wish God’s mercy on each of them.”
Turkey witnessed its deadliest ever coal mining disaster in 2014, when 301 people died in an explosion in the western town of Soma.
The disaster sparked anger and resentment over the government’s response to the tragedy.
