Mine collapse in Denizli: Two workers lost their lives

A collapse occurred for reasons yet to be determined at a chrome mine located in the Karaismailler neighborhood.

Upon notification of the situation, gendarmerie, medical, fire department, and AFAD teams were dispatched to the scene.

Assessing that 3 people were trapped due to the collapse, the teams initiated search and rescue operations.

As a result of the intensive efforts of the teams, the 3 trapped individuals were reached. One of the workers, Rıfat Salman, was rescued and transported to Pamukkale University Hospital by medical teams.

The bodies of mining engineer Kadir Özer and mine worker Mustafa Karahan, who were determined to have lost their lives, were recovered from under the rubble by the teams and sent to the same hospital's morgue for autopsy.

Denizli Governor Ömer Faruk Coşkun, who conducted inspections at the scene, told reporters that a tragic accident had occurred at the mine.

Wishing God's mercy upon those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the worker rescued with injuries, Coşkun stated the following:

"A collapse occurred at the chrome mine in the Karaismailler village of our Acıpayam district. As a result of this collapse, 3 of our friends remained under the rubble. Thank God, we rescued one of our friends from under the rubble and have now transported him to the hospital. His health condition is quite good. According to the information we have received, he has no stable issues. Unfortunately, we lost our other two friends. It is a tragic accident. Naturally, a judicial investigation has been launched regarding the incident. Once the incident is clarified as a result of the investigation, the necessary actions will be taken."

Providing information about the mine, Governor Coşkun noted the following:

"It was stated that the mine shaft is approximately one thousand meters at the horizontal level. It was reported that there was a 3-4 meter collapse at approximately 700 to 800 meters in, according to the statements of our friends who came out from inside. Of course, all these matters will emerge as a result of the technical examination to be conducted there. For now, it is of course not possible to provide very detailed information regarding these issues. Necessary statements will be made as a result of the technical teams' examination of the matter. One of those who lost their lives is an engineer friend of ours, and the other is one of our fellow workers. I wish God's mercy upon our citizens who died, our friends who died. I offer my condolences to their relatives. May we have patience."