Bartın mine explosion: 8 arrested, expert report says blast caused by insufficient ventilation

Photo: AA

Eight suspects have been remanded in custody for "causing the deaths of multiple persons by gross negligence" in an investigation into the October 14 mine explosion in the Amasra, Bartın, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Forty-one mine workers were killed and more than 20 others were injured in the firedamp explosion in the mine operated by the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise Institution (TTK).

On October 27, twenty-four suspects, executives, occupational safety managers and engineers, were detained.

Cihat Özdemir, the director, S.A., the deputy director, S.E., the operations manager, M.T., the chief engineer, V.S., the deputy occupational safety manager, and three engineers were remanded in custody.

The judgeship released 16 other suspects, with two released on probation.

Expert report

Meanwhile, an expert report has been prepared as part of the investigation carried out by the Amasra Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The report prepared by a seven-person expert committee indicates that the main cause of the explosion was the failure to implement the systems to evacuate the "methane gas" in the furnace.

There were insufficient investments and systems to discharge accumulated gas and dust in the tunnels, according to the report. Inspection and occupational safety measures were also insufficient.

The lack of investments and improvements at the mine played an essential role in the accident, says the report. An inadequate and ineffective ventilation system was a fundamental factor in the incident. There was insufficient quantity and speed of air circulation in the furnace.

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Consequently, the task of diluting and rapidly removing flammable and explosive gasses and dust from the work environment was impossible.

Central gas monitoring system showed that potential explosive methane levels routinely were above recommended levels. The incident would have been prevented if the ventilation system had been adequate and effective.

Together with the lack of ventilation, methane drainage was not implemented, if this had been executed, the accident would have been prevented. Coal dust further accelerated the explosion. Efforts to combat dust were also insufficient. Furthermore, the report indicated that the supervision of the mine was inadequate. (WM/VK)