18 People Arrested in Turkey Mine Disaster, Including Mining Company Execs

Police have arrested 18 people, including mining company executives, following the deadly accident that killed 301 miners in western Turkey, according to local media

The Dogan News Agency reported that Ramazan Dogru, general manager of the mine owned by Soma Holding, and its operations manager Akin Celik, were among those detained Sunday, according to multiple reports. Prosecutors were questioning five people at a local courthouse near the site of the disaster.

Approximately 787 miners were inside a coal mine when an explosion and fire occurred last week. The mine is located in Soma, a town in the province of Manisa, around 155 miles south of Istanbul. Most of the victims died from carbon-monoxide poisoning, with some miners 1,378 feet deep inside the mine. Read more...