Striking claim regarding the disaster in Erzincan! 'The vibration signal system was broken...'

Following a landslide at the mining site in the İliç district of Erzincan, 9 workers were left trapped under the debris. While search and rescue efforts for the workers continue, journalist İsmail Saymaz brought a striking claim to the agenda in his column in Sözcü.

Stating that a 67-page report was recently prepared by an international auditing firm for the Çöpler Gold Mine, operated by Anagold, Saymaz said that this report included an opinion stating that “the signal system showing vibrations on the ground was broken” and that the report was forwarded to all company officials, including the Canadian national I.T.

“VIBRATION SIGNAL BROKEN”

Pointing out that findings regarding a signal malfunction in the heap leach area were made one day before the landslide, Saymaz emphasized that photographs of this situation were taken and reported to the authorities.

Stating that when a crack was noticed on the hill at 09:30 on the day of the landslide, a meeting was held, the site was evacuated, and approximately 100 workers were withdrawn from the area, he noted the following:

“Upon the order of I.T., Şaban Yılmaz and four workers were sent to a container. Three experts went up to the hill to conduct an inspection. The landslide occurred while the experts were returning from their mission.”

“DYNAMITE WAS DETONATED EVEN AFTER THE SITE WAS EVACUATED”

İsmail Saymaz also stated that dynamite blasting was carried out even on the day of the landslide, providing the following information:

“According to the prosecutor's office, the most important causes of the collapse are: the increase in the amount of solution applied to the soil; the heap leach pile reaching twice its intended size; and the regular detonation of dynamite every day at 12:00. It is stated that even after the site was evacuated, dynamite was detonated at 12:00 and its intensity was gradually increased.”