Gov’t doing everything to prevent mine accidents: Erdoğan

The government is doing everything to put an end to mine accidents, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said as he inspected and coordinated the rescue operation at the coal mine in Bartın province that claimed the lives of 41 workers and injured several dozens.

"We do everything in our power in order to bury mine accidents in history by employing all the means of technology and all the instruments of business administration. I believe that our domestic and national capabilities will be sufficient to enable us to implement the necessary structural transformation in this issue," Erdoğan said while paying a visit to Bartın on Oct. 15.

Erdoğan went to Bartın to inspect the search and rescue operations and get informed about the reasons for the mine explosion that happened late on Oct. 14.

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez updated him about the developments and ongoing rescue operation.

Noting that the mine blast due to firedamp deeply saddened the Turkish nation, Erdoğan wished Allah's mercy upon all the mine workers who were killed in the blast and offered his condolences to their families.

"The state has launched efforts at the site of the accident by mobilizing all of its institutions right after the blast, which occurred 300 and 350 meters underground at the mine. While search and rescue works are ongoing, our injured workers have been transferred to hospitals in several provinces by ambulances, helicopters and air ambulances," Erdoğan stated.

The administrative and judicial probe will reveal what caused the blast and who is responsible for it, Erdoğan suggested. "These multi-pronged investigations have already been initiated."

"As in every other issue, we put humans first in business...