A gas explosion at a privately owned coal mine in northwestern Turkey has claimed the lives of two miners and left one worker trapped underground, according to local authorities. The blast, caused by a buildup of flammable gas known as firedamp, occurred on Friday morning in the town of Gelik, in the Zonguldak province, a region long associated with coal mining.
Zonguldak governor Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu confirmed that eight miners were in the tunnel at the time of the explosion. Seven were brought to the surface, but two died after being taken to hospital. Five others were injured, two of them seriously, with burns requiring specialist treatment. One of the critically injured miners has been transferred to Ankara, and preparations are under way to move the second.
“One of the miners is still inside the mine. We have made contact with him and are trying to get him out,” the governor told reporters. Rescue teams from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), along with medical and fire crews, were dispatched to the site shortly after the blast, which was reported around 10:00 local time.
Rescue efforts and investigation
Local newspaper Pusula identified the mine as belonging to Demir Madencilik, a private operator. An official investigation has been opened to determine the precise cause of the explosion, though initial assessments point to a sudden release of methane, a common hazard in underground coal workings.
The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by miners in Turkey, where safety standards have repeatedly come under scrutiny. Earlier this month, five workers died in a coal mine collapse in Soma, in the western province of Manisa. That disaster echoed a far deadlier tragedy in 2014, when 301 miners lost their lives in the same town, prompting nationwide protests and calls for better regulation.
Turkey’s mining sector has struggled to modernise, particularly in older operations in the Zonguldak basin, where seams are narrow and gas levels are notoriously unpredictable. Despite legal reforms and increased inspections, accidents remain frequent, and unions argue that enforcement is inconsistent.
The latest deaths come as Turkey and other countries in the region are rethinking industrial and urban planning in the face of climate pressures, but for mining communities, the immediate concern is the safety of those still underground.
Rescue teams are maintaining contact with the trapped miner, but officials have not provided a timeline for his extraction. The governor’s office said that efforts are being hampered by unstable ground conditions and the risk of further gas leaks.
As news of the accident spread, local residents gathered near the mine entrance, waiting for updates. The Zonguldak region has a long mining heritage, and many families have multiple generations employed in the pits. The provincial disaster agency has set up a support centre for relatives of the victims and the injured.
The national mining authority has dispatched a team of specialists to assist with the rescue and to begin the technical investigation. In a statement, the energy ministry expressed condolences and promised a full inquiry, but did not comment on whether safety violations may have contributed to the blast.
For now, the focus remains on the rescue operation. “We are doing everything we can,” Governor Hacıbektaşoğlu said. “Our priority is to bring our miner out alive.”
