2014: The year of labor disasters, police violence, environmental struggle and refugee flow

2014 has been the year when the whole world witnessed the almost non-existent labor safety in Turkey at the expense of hundreds of workers' life after the country was hit by successive accidents, including the biggest mining disaster of its recent history in the Aegean coal capital of Soma.

With its ups and downs, 2014 in Turkey was an unforgettable year in terms of deadly accidents that could have all been prevented if necessary precautions had been taken in time. Ranging from mine accidents to migrant deaths at sea, those have assumed a place in the country's long list of ignominious fatal accidents. The death of 15-year-old Berkin Elvan, hit by a police tear gas canister in 2013, after a long period in coma marked the increase of police violence targeting peaceful demonstrations across the country. Struggles against urban development or energy projects to save the environment have spread with activists becoming more vocal since the Gezi protests. The number of refugees has also considerably risem, especially with a new flow following the jihadist siege to the northern Syrian town of Kobane.

Soma mining accident

The afternoon of May 13, 2014, marked the deadliest ever workplace and mining accident in Turkey's history, leaving 301 miners dead, many other miners affected by the accident and a country in mourning.

Everything started with a fire about 2,000 meters from the mine entrance, at a depth of 150 meters, in a coal mine in the western province of Manisa's Soma district. The Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) initially announced that a power distribution unit was the cause of the fire, but the company denied it on May 16.

The accident that took place during a shift change claimed 301 lives; more than 780 miners were inside the mine when the fire erupted. Three days of official mourning were declared on May 14 by the government once the extremity of the disaster was realized.

Eight people, including the CEO, general manager and operating manager of the Soma...

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