Initial report shows mistakes in Soma mine disaster rescue

An initial expert report on the Soma mine disaster questions the rescue operation carried out after hundreds of workers remained trapped in the galleries after the fire started to spread inside the mine An initial expert report on the Soma mine disaster obtained by daily Hürriyet has questioned the rescue operation carried out after hundreds of workers remained trapped in the galleries after the fire started to spread inside the mine.

The report said footage and pictures inside the mine where 301 workers perished following the accident on May 13 may suggest the rescue operation was not conducted appropriately.

“It was described in the first days [after the disaster] that pumping oxygen and water during the operation was a mistake. Images showing that some of the miners were burned and boiled are likely to validate [those claims],” the report said.

Inspection at the mine and the preparation of the report lagged after the fire inside the galleries continued for days and the interior of the facility presented a high risk for the experts to carry their work. The final report is expected to be completed in 20 days and submitted to the court. After the finalization of the expert report, the trial may be set to begin next November, according to officials.

The head of the Manisa Bar Association, Zeynel Balkız, said there were still areas inside the galleries awaiting the experts’ inspection.

“At the moment, they were only able to go where the mine collapsed some 1,400 meters inside. But the area has a surface of 4,500-squaremeters. There are many places that haven’t been inspected yet. They will descend there as well,” Balkız said.

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