Authorities in Turkey have detained four individuals following a devastating landslide at a gold mine in the country's eastern region. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has left at least nine workers missing, according to reports from Turkish state media.
The landslide took place at the Anagold Madencilik company's Copler mine in the town of Ilic, located in the mountainous Erzincan province. A video captured by a worker shows a massive amount of earth engulfing the site, sweeping away everything in its path. The landslide was triggered by a mound of soil extracted during mining operations, as confirmed by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
Rescue efforts have been underway since the incident, with over 800 personnel involved in the search and rescue mission. This includes police, military teams, mine rescuers, and volunteers, all working tirelessly to locate the missing workers. Fellow colleagues from the mine have also joined the rescue operation, while families anxiously wait for news of their loved ones.
In a related development, four senior mine officials, including the field manager, have been detained by the police as part of an investigation into the incident, as reported by national broadcaster TRT. The authorities aim to determine the cause of the disaster and hold those responsible accountable.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a visit to Egypt, expressed his determination to continue the search and rescue mission until all the missing mine workers are found. The president emphasized that intense efforts were being made to locate the nine individuals.
According to Yerlikaya, five of the missing workers were believed to be near or inside a metal container when the landslide struck. Three others were either inside or in close proximity to a vehicle, while another was inside a truck. Radar detection devices are being utilized by the rescuers to aid in locating these vehicles and containers within the mass of earth.
Concerns have also been raised regarding potential environmental risks arising from the landslide. Geologist Suleyman Pampal has cautioned that the processed soil from the mine may contain dangerous substances such as cyanide, which is used in gold extraction. Experts also fear a potential threat to the nearby Euphrates River. To prevent water pollution, a stream leading to the river has been closed, as confirmed by the Ministry of Environment. The governor of Erzincan, Hamza Aydoglu, has reassured that there has been no leakage into the waterway.
Notably, the mine had previously been closed in 2020 following a cyanide leak into the Euphrates River. After the mine operators were fined, a cleanup operation was completed, and the mine reopened two years later. The incident raises questions about the effectiveness of safety measures and inspections in the mining industry. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that the mine had undergone an inspection in August, but no issues related to the accident were discovered at that time. Investigations into the cause of the landslide are ongoing.
Turkey has a troubling history of mining accidents, with several incidents resulting in significant loss of life. In 2022, an explosion at the Amasra coal mine claimed the lives of 41 workers on the Black Sea coast. The country's deadliest mining disaster occurred in 2014 at a coal mine in Soma, western Turkey, where 301 workers lost their lives. These tragic events have prompted concerns about the disregard for safety risks and inadequate inspections within the industry.
As authorities continue their investigation into the latest incident, the focus remains on rescuing the missing workers and preventing any further harm to the environment. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of strict safety regulations and regular inspections in the mining sector to safeguard the lives of workers and protect the surrounding ecosystems.
