May 14, 2014
Ernesto McConnell
Reporter
Headlines
On Tuesday, a power transformer located inside of a mine in Soma, Turkey, exploded, leading to a fire that has caused mass casualties. According to Turkey’s Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate, there have been 274 confirmed deaths. Of the 274 dead, autopsies revealed the leading cause of death to be carbon monoxide poisoning. Rescuers have saved at least 88 miners—at least 120 more are believed to be trapped in the mine. According to rescue volunteer Mustafa Gursoy, conditions inside the mine were hot, smoky and filled with carbon monoxide. Authorities attempted to pump fresh air into the mine to allow rescuers to enter, but according to mine safety officials, the addition of oxygen would result in a larger fire. Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz stated that hopes of rescuing anyone still in the mine “are diminishing.”
