* Sources: Anadolu Agency & Mezopotamya Agency
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Trapped under debris after an unlicensed coal mine collapsed in Turkey's eastern province of Şırnak on December 24, the dead body of worker Hasan İnal (30) has been recovered. The body of İnal has been sent to the mortuary of Şırnak State Hospital for postmortem examination.
Located on the foothills of Cudi Mountain near Üçkiraz village, a coal mine, which was reportedly operating without license, collapsed on Tuesday.
Two people were working in the mine at the moment of collapse. While one of the miners could be rescued, Hasan İnal was trapped under debris. The police, Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD) and 112 Emergency Service teams launched a search and rescue operation for İnal.
His detained family released
On the other side, soldiers conducted a raid to the hamlet of Karamık (Umyanis) in Pervari in Turkey's eastern province of Siirt yesterday and took 19 people into custody. Among the ones detained by the soldiers were also the mother and brother of the deceased worker.
As the detention of his family members sparked outrage, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Siirt MP Meral Danış Beştaş took action about the incident via HDP Siirt Provincial Organization. Held in Siirt Gendarmerie Command, the detained family have been released after their depositions.
While the brother was informed about the collapse, mother Sarya İnal has not yet been informed about the death of her son. The family is taken from Siirt to Şırnak by a vehicle arranged by the HDP Siirt Provincial Organization.
The detained have not yet deposed, according to reports.
14 workers died in Şırnak mines in 2 years
As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), 14 workers have lost their lives and one worker has been wounded in mines in Şırnak in the last two years:
October 14, 2017: Located at a distance of 5 kilometers from the city center, Coal Mine No.1 collapsed, claiming the lives of workers Mehmet İzer, Sevkan Üstün, Yılmaz Mağrur, Mesut Mağrur, Vedat Özden, Ramazan Uğur, Abdullah Kayaş and Uğur Kabak.
November 24, 2017: In the village of Kösreli (Hesena) in Silopi district, a construction equipment rolled over while the mined coal was being loaded. Worker Ferhat Kayaalp lost his life in the incident.
December 4, 2017: A firedamp explosion hit a coal mine between the town of Balveren and village of Araköy (Kiron). Abdurrahman Tunç (43) and his brother Ömer Tunç (37) lost their lives in the explosion.
May 11, 2019: A mine near Toptepe (Avgamasiya) village collapsed, claiming the life of worker Reşit Özcan and wounding Kamil Sunar.
December 24, 2019: A coal mine in the rural part of Üçkiraz (Nêvava) and Kemerli (Gilindor) villages collapsed. Trapped under debris, worker Hasan İnal lost his life. (AÖ/SD)
* Photos: Anadolu Agency
