Main opposition leader calls out the government for neglect in mine disaster

Turkey’s main opposition leader vowed to follow up the coal mine explosion in the northern town of Bartin in Turkey which claimed 41 lives as President Tayyip Erdogan said he was a man who believes in destiny. 

CHP (Republican People’s Party) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu visited on Saturday the site of the state-owned mine where the miners were trapped to death and said: "It is the duty of the social state to ensure the safety of life of these people."

“I am really full of anger. I am really sorry. We live in the 21st century, my friends, the 21st century,” Kilicdaroglu said, adding that what happened in Soma and Ermenek was fresh in the memory of Turkish society. 

Either we did not forget Soma in the 21st century, we did not forget Ermenek."

In May 2014, an explosion in a coal mine in western town of Soma killed 301 people in what was the worst mine disaster in Turkey's history. In October the same year, after only five months, 18 miners were killed this time in Ermenek, a town in central Turkey. 

Kilicdaroglu said the lack of appropriate measures were the reason behind the accidents. 

“Why do these mining accidents only happen in Turkey? What about mining in another country in the world? Why don't people die there? They extract more coal than we do. 'We will take action,' they say. Where have you been for 20 years? Where will you take action? Who will be accountable to these families? Is life this cheap in Turkey?” Kilicdaroglu said.