#Turkey: Death toll rises to 40 in coal mine explosion, many missing.

At least 40 people have been killed and dozens more buried under the rubble after an explosion in a coal mine in Baratin province of northern Turkey.

About 110 people were working in the mine at a depth of 300 meters at the time of the explosion.

Turkey's Health Minister Fehrtin Kusha said 11 people have been rescued and are being treated.

The rescue workers were trying to reach the victims by removing rocks throughout the night.

In the video footage, miners can be seen walking out of the mine in the Black Sea coastal city of Amasya.

Friends and relatives of the missing can also be seen standing near the quarry eager to hear news of their loved ones.

It is believed that the explosion took place at a depth of 300 meters. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said that some 49 people were working at the "dangerous" depth of 300-350 meters. Swallow told the media representatives present on the spot that there are people who we have failed to evacuate.

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The cause of the blast is still unknown and local authorities have started an investigation.

Turkey's energy minister said initial indications were that the explosion was caused by a fire dump, an explosive gas formed from methane gas in a coal mine.

He said that we are in a very sad situation are facing.

Energy Minister Fateh Doonmuz said that there has been a partial collapse inside the mine, but that there is no fire at the moment and there is still air flow.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to visit the site on Saturday.

Amasya Mayor Rishai Shakir said that many of the survivors were seriously injured.

Source/bbc

Pics/google