Minister Yerlikaya in İliç: The location is known, we are focusing on it

Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya told reporters at the entrance of the mine that operations have been ongoing since the moment the tragic incident occurred.

Stating that the work has continued day and night without pause, Yerlikaya said, "The numbers change constantly, but there are 2,700 personnel, over 800 vehicles, and technology here; whatever is needed is here. We are here with knowledge, experience, expertise, and scientists, all together."

"THEY HAVE REACHED A CERTAIN POINT AND IT WILL BE FINISHED SOON"

Explaining that they are at the site for search and rescue as a Ministry, Yerlikaya said:

"Among those 2,700 colleagues, 500 are search and rescue personnel, each of whom is experienced and skilled in their work. As always, we say that occupational health and safety comes first. This is a giant facility on a 940-hectare plot of land, and every ministry is performing its own duties. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources is the license holder for this site, and our minister has been here since the beginning, thank you to him. We are also providing him with support. The process of our Ministry of Justice is clear; our Erzincan Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is managing the process. Our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, especially the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), has a major operation here. They are working on the evacuation of the 5 million cubic meters of soil that flowed and slid, before it merges with the Sabırlı Creek, which has become the path for the flow. They have reached a certain point and it will be finished soon. At the same time, DSİ is building a barrier in front of the area where this 5 million cubic meters of soil slid as a precautionary measure."

Reminding that the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change is continuously taking samples from the region with scientists at certain intervals, Yerlikaya explained that the samples are sent either to the Ministry's mobile laboratory on-site or to accredited laboratories in Turkey.

Stating that the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is concerned with the health and safety of the workers, Yerlikaya said, "They have audit processes regarding the past work accident, but at the same time, we are working on the current search and rescue and soil removal process here, that is, the safety of the 2,700 people working here. The control of the safety measures taken regarding this is being carried out."

Yerlikaya stated that they are constantly monitoring the region with 2 georadars placed in the leach area and that they are controlling these with an alarm system.

Emphasizing that they wish to complete the entire search, scanning, and soil removal processes without any further landslides, Yerlikaya expressed that they want to reach the 9 workers as soon as possible.

"THE LOCATION IS KNOWN, WE ARE FOCUSING ON IT"

Stating that 5 of the missing workers were in a container, 1 was in a truck that fell into the manganese quarry, and 3 were in another vehicle, Yerlikaya said, "We don't know exactly which point they are at, but we have marked an area where they are in the vicinity and surroundings, and we are focusing on that. We are searching for the container at the location we showed from the observation point during our press meeting. The location is known, we are focusing on it."

Providing information about the number of vehicles working in the region, Yerlikaya noted the following:

"We are talking about a transport operation involving over 50 excavators and 1,000 trucks daily to move the excavated soil to a safe and temporary storage area at the marble quarry. We are working with the effort of how we can be faster than the day before, but in a safe environment. We will always come together with our press members day and night. We have only one intention: to convey accurate information in a timely manner, and to convey it to our nation through you. They should not give value to anything that is not announced through you. Let them get the truth from us, and let us share these with our nation through you so that we do not turn unnecessary topics into areas of debate."

When asked by a reporter whether there was a fugitive suspect, Minister Yerlikaya replied, "I don't know of a fugitive suspect, I don't know at this moment. You also reported that the general manager was the last one to be placed under judicial control and a travel ban. Our Minister of Justice and our Erzincan Chief Public Prosecutor's Office here are following the public opinion very closely. If they feel the need to provide information about this, you will definitely see a statement from them; they are already doing so. I know they have made 3-4 statements so far."