President Erdogan, who canceled a planned trip to Diyarbakır province and instead visited the incident site in the town of Amasra, said the search and rescue operation is complete.
According to Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez, initial findings indicate the blast was caused by firedamp, an explosive mixture of flammable gases in mines.
A total of 11 wounded workers are under treatment in hospitals.
Erdoğan said Türkiye mobilized all its resources after the blast, and extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
An investigation into the incident is underway, he said, adding: “We no longer want to see any deficiencies or unnecessary risks in our mines.”
Türkiye is making all-out efforts to end such incidents with the help of advanced technology, the Turkish president said. “I believe our domestic and national means will be sufficient to provide the structural change we need in this regard,” he added.
“At our Cabinet meeting, we will immediately determine the assistance and support needed and will take the necessary steps.”
The blast is one of the deadliest industrial disasters in Türkiye’s recent history. In 2014, 301 people were killed in Türkiye’s worst mining disaster at a coal mine in the Aegean province of Manisa.
“Please accept our deepest condolences regarding the tragic consequences of the accident,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a message to Erdoğan.
Putin conveyed his sadness and support to the families and relatives of the injured, wishing for a speedy recovery.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also conveyed his condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, and wished recovery to the wounded.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said “our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families and the Turkish people.”
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko also sent a message to Erdoğan, and said: “I ask you to convey my sadness and support to the family and relatives of the deceased miners, and my wish for a speedy recovery for the injured.”
The United States Embassy in Ankara conveyed condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Condolences were received from the foreign ministries of Oman, Jordan, Serbia, Bulgaria and Egypt as well.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he “learned with deep sadness” the news that a mining explosion occurred in the Amasra district of Bartın.
“I offer my condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Zelenskyy said on Twitter in Turkish.
Sympathies were also expressed by the embassies of Ukraine, Italy, the United Kingdom, Greece and France in Ankara.
Addressing Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoğlu, French counterpart Catherine Colonna tweeted “sincere condolence for the tragic loss of so many lives in Bartın. My sympathies go out to the families of the victims.”
Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said “Greece is ready to send immediate support to assist in the search and rescue efforts.”
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, and Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde also issued condolence statements for the families and loved ones of the victims, and wished a quick recovery to the injured.
Source:kyivpost.com/