World · Middle East · 3 hrs ago
Methane explosion at Turkish coal mine kills three and injures five
A methane explosion killed three miners at a privately operated coal mine in Gelik, in northwestern Turkey.
Five other miners were injured, including two who suffered burns and were in serious condition.
Rescuers recovered the last trapped miner, and operations ended after all eight people in the tunnel were accounted for.
The blast happened in Zonguldak province, where mine accidents have drawn attention to safety in Turkey’s coal industry.
In 2014, 301 people died in a mine disaster in Soma, and later findings pointed to safety violations.
Judicial and administrative investigations are now underway into the latest explosion.
An explosion at a privately operated coal mine in Gelik, Zonguldak province, killed miners and injured five others on Friday.
The reports differ on the final death toll: the Associated Press reported two deaths while a worker remained underground, and Turkish Minute later reported three after rescuers recovered the last trapped miner.
The Zonguldak Governor’s Office said methane gas caused the explosion.
Two injured miners were in serious condition, according to the governor.
Judicial and administrative investigations have been launched.
- Who
- Miners at a privately operated coal mine; the reports give a final death toll of three or two at different stages.
- What
- An explosion killed miners and injured five others. Turkish Minute later reported three deaths; AP reported two while a worker remained underground.
- When
- Friday, October 23, 2026; the blast occurred around 10 a.m., according to Turkish Minute.
- Where
- A mine in Gelik, in the Kilimli district of Zonguldak province, northern Turkey.
- Why
- The Zonguldak Governor’s Office said methane gas caused the explosion. AP initially said the cause was not known.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An explosion occurred at a privately operated mine in Gelik, according to Turkish Minute.
The governor initially reported two deaths among seven miners brought out of the mine.
Rescuers recovered the last miner trapped underground, and Turkish Minute reported that the death toll had risen to three.
Judicial and administrative investigations were launched, the governor’s office said.
- Location
- Gelik, Kilimli district, Zonguldak province, Turkey
- Blast time
- Around 10 a.m. Friday
- Final death toll reported by Turkish Minute
- 3 miners
- Deaths reported by AP
- 2 workers, while another worker remained inside
- Injured
- 5 people
- Cause reported by governor’s office
- Methane gas
3 sources
Coal mine explosion kills 3 in northwestern Turkey
Zonguldak'ta maden ocağında patlama: 2 işçi hayatını kaybetti, 1 madenci için kurtarma çalışması sürüyor Vali Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu: 2 işçi hayatını kaybetti 5 işçi yaralı, 1 işçiyi kurtarma çalışmaları devam ediyor
Explosion in Turkey mine kills 2 workers, injures 5 others
What people are saying
Eight people were in the tunnel, seven were rescued. Unfortunately, two of our miners died after being taken to hospital.