CHP report says incorrect air conditioning increased death toll in mine disaster

Turkey’s main opposition CHP (Republican People’s Party) claimed that incorrect ventilation in the site of a mine explosion in Turkey’s northern Bartin where 41 miners lost their lives increased the death toll, in an extensive report with data piled by the party officials.

The report titled “Amasra Mine Disaster” reminded the warnings of the Court of Accounts, drawing attention to the deficiencies in ventilation systems. According to the report, the court in its audit stressed that ineffective ventilation risked occupational safety. The report also said the smoke affected the miners in other corridors due to the wrong ventilation system, thus increasing the death toll.

The report also accused state-owned Turkish Coal Institution (TTK) of placing profit before its role as a public institution and said that was an important factor in the killing of 479 workers in 10 mining accidents since 2002.

"There is an annual investment amount of 11.2 million TL per institution. Even this figure shows how the structure of the TTK has turned from public interest to rent," said Ahmet Akin, vice president of the CHP who led the party delegation in writing the report. 

He also said that the authorities should urgently inform the public about how the methane gas that caused the firedamp explosion in the accident emerged according to the sensor measurements, and vowed not to allow the ruling AKP to cover up this disaster.

CHP’s report also noted that public institutions such as the TTK should be freed from all kinds of political pressure and managed according to mining rules and all the mine sites should be re-inspected taking into account ILO standards.