9 suspects arrested in Soma mine collapse investigation

A new development has occurred in the investigation into the collapse at a private mining operation in the Soma district of Manisa, which resulted in the deaths of 5 workers. The 9 suspects detained as part of the investigation were arrested by the court they were brought before.

The investigation, initiated by the Soma Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, is being conducted by 3 public prosecutors assigned under the coordination of the chief prosecutor. After their procedures at the gendarmerie, the suspects were referred to the Soma Courthouse and, following their statements to the prosecutor, were sent to the duty magistrate judge with a request for arrest.

The court decided to arrest the operation's general manager Y.B., deputy general manager A.E., survey and project manager I.D., production manager K.L., occupational health and safety manager M.B., mechanical manager H.T., shift supervisor M.K., and engineers F.E. and R.Ö.

The collapse occurred on October 1 at approximately 13:15 at the mining operation active in Soma. In the incident, 7 miners were trapped under the earth. Upon notification, AFAD, gendarmerie, 112 Emergency Health, and Manisa Metropolitan Municipality fire department teams were dispatched to the region.

During the search and rescue efforts, 2 miners were rescued with injuries. The lifeless bodies of Halit Ersay (37), Kerim Ören (37), Ramazan İnce (26), İsa Olcay (48), and Ömer Karakaya (34), who were trapped under the collapse, were recovered.

Meanwhile, an expert committee has been appointed by the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and a chief inspector has been appointed by the Social Security Institution of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to investigate the collapse in all its aspects.

News Source: 12punto