Grief and rage in Turkey as confirmed death toll in mine disaster rises to 284
Death toll rises to 284 as grieving relatives of mine disaster victims laid their dead to rest in mass burials on Thursday in Turkey as protests against the government were brutally repressed
Turkish mine operator Soma Holding said on Friday 284 people were confirmed dead and 18 others were thought still to be trapped underground after a fire in its mine in the western town of Soma.
The company said 363 people were evacuated from the mine after fire broke out on Tuesday and a further 122 miners were hospitalised. It said there were 787 miners working at the time.
With photos of their loved ones pinned to their chests and chanting the names of lost miners, grieving relatives laid their dead to rest in mass burials Thursday, as gravediggers laboured to make room for scores more victims of Turkey’s worst mining disaster.
“The love of my life is gone,” women wailed loudly, swaying and singing improvised laments about the departed as bodies were lowered, one by one, into the freshly dug graves.
Rescue teams recovered another victim, raising the death toll to 284 from Tuesday’s disaster, with at least 18 miners believed still trapped, according to the mine operator.
