A collapse occurred in a mining operation operating in Soma district at around 14:00 yesterday. While 7 workers were trapped under the rubble, AFAD, fire brigade and gendarmerie teams were dispatched to the region upon notice. The teams rescued injured workers Süleyman Şakrak and İbrahim Çimen (44). The teams found the dead bodies of Halit Ersay, Kerim Ören, Ramazan İnce, İsa Olcay and Ömer Karakaya.
While the treatment of İbrahim Çimen, one of the injured and rescued miners, continued in the normal ward, Süleyman Şakrak was discharged after his treatment. Ibrahim Çimen, married and father of three children, who survived the collapse, said, "We were working and supporting. The poles in the area where we were working suddenly started to collapse. I threw myself. The poles started pressing on my waist. At that moment, my children came to my mind."
Stating that he had a crack in his hip and a crack and fracture in his foot, Çimen said that he had been working in the mine since 2005. Stating that he continued to work due to his needs after retirement, Çimen said, "Salaries were not paid regularly. We all had the same problems, and this is reflected in our work."
Autopsy procedures have started at the morgue of the Izmir Forensic Medicine Institute for 5 workers who lost their lives in the collapse in the mine in Soma district of Manisa. The bodies of workers Kerim Ören and Halit Ersay (37), whose autopsies were performed first, were handed over to their relatives. Ören's body was taken to Manisa's Kırkağaç district, and Ersay's body was taken to Denizli's Çameli district to be buried.
It was learned that the body of Ramazan İnce (26), one of the other workers whose autopsy procedures are ongoing, will be buried in İvrindi district of Balıkesir, the body of Ömer Karakaya, a 5-year miner worker who is married and father of 1 child, will be buried in Kırkağaç district of Manisa, and the body of İsa Olcay (49), married and father of 2 children, will be buried in Gediz district of Kütahya.
Yüksel Olcay (47), brother of İsa Olcay, one of the miners who lost his life, stated that his brother continued to work despite his retirement 5 years ago, and said, "He was continuing to work because of financial difficulties. Unfortunately, we received the sad news yesterday. We set out at night. I came from Antalya. We are currently at the Forensic Medicine Institute. We are waiting for the results. We will collect our body from here and go to Gökler town of Gediz district of Kütahya, our hometown."
Miner Ramazan İnce's uncle Sefer İnce also said, "Ramadan had been working in the mine for about 2 years. He was single. He said 'I am preparing for marriage', but it was not exactly clear. He was seeing someone. There were engagement preparations. The date was not known yet."
On the other hand, it was learned that 9 managers, including the general manager of the mining company, were detained as part of the investigation into the mine collapse in which 5 workers lost their lives and 2 workers were injured.
Within the scope of the investigation carried out by 3 public prosecutors appointed by the Ministry of Justice, under the coordination of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a detention order was issued for company officials who were considered to be responsible and negligent in the incident. It was learned that 9 managers, including the general manager of the operating mining company, were detained.
