Again mine explosion, again “work accident”
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
 
Other articles
 

13 workers died in a methane explosion that happened in a mine in Odakoy, near Dursunbey in the province of Balikesir, Turkey on February 24. At least 18 workers were injured, 6 of them badly, in the catastrophe happening in the mine belonging to a private company. {divide}After the explosion the injured were taken to hospitals where no specialists were present so that they had to be taken to other cities quite far away. The bodies of the dead workers were put next to apples in a cold store. Until now, 3 methane explosions have happened at this mine, one in 2006 with the result of 17 deaths. However, nothing has been changed by the boss of the mine so far, no precautions were taken for the safety of the 1,000 workers working here. The workers employed at Odakoy mine work under slavery conditions. In 2006, the Union of Mine Workers of Turkey had started to organise the workers of Odakoy, however all workers who became members of the union were dismissed. The workers had started a trial against the boss afterwards but weren't taken back to work although they had won the trial.