Ali Yerlikaya announces suspension of search operations in Erzincan

In a press statement, Yerlikaya said, "Measurements are being taken moment by moment both in the search activities in the Sabırlar region and in the areas above the Mannan Mine.

If there is a possibility of a slide, we have a fast-acting warning mechanism for all our friends involved in the search activities below. Our minister also spoke about the Mannan Mine.

Seeing the risk that the mass, which has been sitting there since 6 days ago, is active and becoming increasingly active, we have stopped the search activities there," he stated.

"RISK HAS INTENSIFIED"

"We have unfortunately seen that a portion of the mass sitting above the Sabırlar stream is not stable, but active. We wanted to share this with our dear nation through you. If the area on the ridges of both locations where the slides occurred were stable, we would be giving you news every day about how many vehicles we have transported and how we are improving ourselves. We stated how long it would take to move the total mass here.

We are taking into account the negativity of the active 'I am here' situation on both ridges. We stopped as of last night. We have gone there many times. We have worked both in the field and on computer screens."

In the continuation of his statement, Yerlikaya said, "We have said that the remaining mass in both areas is not stable, but active, 24 hours a day without stopping. We definitely stopped one side yesterday. We are concerned about whether a safe environment can be regained or not. We are looking at it negatively right now. This is what our professors are saying at the moment. It is not possible to predict what will happen to the other side for now."

"OPERATIONS HAVE COME TO A HALT"

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Bayraktar continued his words as follows: The area where this waste will ultimately be permanently stacked is being carried out entirely under the coordination and approval of our Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.

It is out of the question for this soil to be placed anywhere they do not approve. We planned the place we call the marble quarry as a temporary site. Currently, these activities have come to a halt due to the landslide. Our primary priority right now is to eliminate the landslide risk.

Today, the assessment of the technical team and academics is that there was an earthquake effect due to the landslide. Our colleagues stated that there was an earthquake effect of approximately magnitude 2.