238 miners killed, 120 still trapped underground
PM Erdogan pledges help and an investigation
Erdogan's government accused of ignoring safety warnings
Police fire tear gas and water cannon at protesters in Ankara
Mine disaster in pictures
Read the latest summary
4.41pm BST
Here's an English translation of the most incendiary passage from Erdogan's speech, via the Wall Street Journal:
[Erdogan] said that accidents were the nature of mining. "Let's not interpret the incident as one that won't happen in coal mines. These things happen," he said.
He argued that some of the anger was political. "There are some groups, extreme elements, that want to abuse developments like this one. I would like to reiterate that, for the peace and unity of our nation, it is very, very important not to pay heed to them," he said.
Minister of Labor and Social Security Çelik on Soma mine disaster: The mine was inspected eight times in past four years.
Ministry of Labor offer condolences and tries to clean the states hands off the mine disaster after 26 hours of the incident. #Turkey.
Social Affairs Minister Celik is on TV, explaining how important ones life is.? nothing can bring those lost lives.. Got no idea what bs
4.30pm BST
Via Zeynep Tufekci, the writer, close observer of political currents in Turkey and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina:
Another moment Turkey's crying about. Rescued miner asks: "Should I take off my boots not to dirty the stretcher"? https://t.co/Nqxwk3D2kS
4.01pm BST
Tensions were running high in Soma following a speech there by prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in which he shrugged off criticism by stating that accidents happen.
The Soma offices of Erdogan's AKP party have reportedly been attacked. A video stream splicing several camera views from the city all at this point (6pm local time) apparently looping recorded material, including a snippet of the incendiary speech depicts serious turmoil in the street. Large crowds have assembled, booing, whistling, shouting. It is unclear whether Erdogan is still in the area.
BREAKING: Violent protest erupts in Turkish town where 238 miners died; many people angry at PM Erdogan.
Hubris - the Turkish govt's refusal to acknowledge fault or provide any sense of accountability is starting to look like a tragic flaw.
Erdoan really overplayed his hand this time. His reaction to Soma is a major screwup, and its the kind that will reverberate.
3.44pm BST
Security forces are reportedly barricading Taksim Square and Gezi Park in Istanbul, the site of frequent clashes over the last year between protesters and police.
Two weeks ago, on International Workers'Day, security forces used water cannon and tear gas to suppress a rally near the square. The government has banned protest activity in the area.
Of course, Gezi Park is being shut down. MT @isik5 Gezi Park boaltlyormu! Geç bile kaldlar! ...pic.twitter.com/CesOOXSuLV
Turkish police erects barricades in Taksim Square after unions called for a protest there today.
3.24pm BST
There are reports of skirmishes and arrests in Soma between families of miners and security forces deployed for the prime minister's visit.
3500 policemen in Soma when Erdoan arrived. First row police then gendarme then local people: v @BirGun_Gazetesi pic.twitter.com/nQKSSK5Ka1
#Erdogans entourage in #Soma vs the people via @onuroklc pic.twitter.com/mS30a1wHzH
3.17pm BST
The Associated Press has compiled a list of some recent fatal mine disasters around the world:
2.48pm BST
Here's a summary of the latest developments:
2.30pm BST
Erdogan said 120 miners remain trapped underground, according to the Anadolu news agency.
He also dismissed that opposition motion about mine safety which his party voted down last month.
PM #Erdogan: "The accident will be investigated to its smallest detail.All steps will be taken, judicially and administratively.
2.08pm BST
Question: Why was the mine allowed to operate with such a poor safety record?
Erdogan: Health and safety inspections were carried out in Soma in March.
2.05pm BST
Erdogan accused "extreme groups" of trying to exploit the disaster for political ends. He urged Turks not to join the protests.
2.03pm BST
The official death toll has increased again, Erdogan announced in live TV news conference. He said 238 people have been killed. He pledged that his government would do whatever it takes to help relatives of the victims.
He also pledged that the disaster would be investigated. "No stone will be left unturned," the prime minister said.
1.44pm BST
Dozens of graves have been dug for the victims of the tragedy at a cemetery in Soma.
1.35pm BST
Erdogan has been meeting relatives of the victims in Soma.
1.25pm BST
AFP has confirmed that police fired teargas and water cannon at hundreds of protesters in the capital.
Around 800 protesters, mostly students, hurled stones at the police and shouted anti-government slogans as they tried to march from a university in Ankara to the energy ministry, it said.
1.21pm BST
Political anger at the disaster appears to be mounting.
Police are reported to have fired teargas and water cannon at students in Ankara protesting against the government's failure to act on safety concerns overt mines.
1.12pm BST
Amnesty International has backed calls for an independent investigation into the private owners of the mine.
In a statement it said:
We feel deep sorrow at the loss of life as a result of the tragedy in the coal mine in Soma, in the province of Manisa in Western Turkey. We call for an immediate independent and impartial investigation to determine the responsibilities of state officials and of officials within the private company running the mine. Justice must be done for the victims of this tragedy.
1.04pm BST
Prime minister Erdogan has announced that the death toll has increased to 232 people.
12.20pm BST
There are unconfirmed reports that a miner is trapped 300m underground after a shaft collapsed at a mine in Zonguldak.
In 1992 the Black Sea port of Zonguldak was the scene of Turkey's worst mining accident when a gas explosion killed 263 workers.
12.15pm BST
Özgür Özel, the opposition politician who represents the Manisa province where the mine is based, claims "around 350" people have been killed in the disaster, according to Hurriyet.
If that figure is confirmed it would be Turkey's worst ever mining accident.
12.08pm BST
The Pope has led the condolences of the international community.
VDEO: Papa Francis'den Soma'da yaamn yitiren madenciler ve onlarn aileleri için dua... http://t.co/q0Qt8XUe1D pic.twitter.com/ZdAUnD3N7b
Sending my sympathy and condolences to the people of Turkey terrible loss of life in mining disaster. My thoughts with everyone affected
#Turkey coal mine explosion: deeply shocked about deaths and injuries. Sending sincere condolences on behalf of @EU_Commission
FM #Steinmeier: I am shocked by the terrible accident in a coal mine in #Turkey. Our thoughts are with the miners. GER stands ready to help.
11.50am BST
Here's a summary of the main developments so far:
11.17am BST
Butler has more harrowing detail from the scene:
As bodies were brought out on stretchers, rescue workers pulled blankets back from the faces of the dead to give jostling crowds of anxious family members a chance to identify victims. One elderly man wearing a prayer cap wailed after he recognized one of the dead, and police restrained him from climbing into an ambulance with the body ...
The explosion tore through the mine as workers were preparing for a shift change, officials said, which likely raised the casualty toll because there were more miners inside the mine than usual.
10.59am BST
AP Demond Butler's updates from the scene in Soma make grim reading. He says only the bodies of dead miners are now emerging from the shaft.
If you could see the faces of the volunteer rescue workers coming out of the Soma mine....Only dead bodies recovered now. A very sad scene.
Hard images at the Soma mine. pic.twitter.com/D2iyg4oL7x
10.53am BST
Protesters have gathered in Istanbul near the offices of Soma Holdings, which owns the mine. They are reported to have chanted "murderers".
chanting "murderers" in front of the soma holding bldg. pic.twitter.com/kZENXMjr8E #soma
Turkish police: To serve and protect... the rich. RT @Meralink: TOMA arrives to where #Soma Holding's HQ located pic.twitter.com/6acgCxqdfu
"@muratdemircim: pic.twitter.com/0ZtD7A18Q5" #soma Holding closed its headquarters in istanbul
10.30am BST
The Turkish Red Crescent has deployed a team of 20 psychologists to help grieving families in Soma.
20 psychologists are in #Soma for psychological support to families of coal miners. #Soma #Turkey
10.24am BST
Energy minister Taner Yildiz has warned that the death toll could exceed the 263 workers killed in Turkey's worst mining disaster to date.
"The problem is more serious than we thought. It is developing into an accident with the highest worker death toll Turkey has seen so far," AFP quoted him saying.
10.19am BST
Riot police have been deployed at the Istanbul offices of Soma Holdings, the company that owns the mine, and in Soma itself where prime minister Erdogan is due to visit.
Policemen and vehicles to protect #Soma mines holding in Istanbul RT@canertuna @SHazalocak pic.twitter.com/Hald1j0hOs pic.twitter.com/ddUzQ1qQFE
#Soma full of anti riot cops to protect #Erdogan from the people in grief. Via @antunescamille pic.twitter.com/1QvimZKhS5
10.16am BST
A survivor has accused a mine supervisor of giving the wrong directions to trapped miners.
CNN Turkey quoted Ozcan Cuce as saying he saw miners killed after being directed away from an oxygen supply.
9.57am BST
The Turkish news agency DHA has published video footage from CCTV cameras showing some of the trapped miners trying to escape after the explosion.
9.51am BST
Protesters have been demonstrating against the AKP's record on mine safety by playing dead on the Istanbul metro system.
RT @Meralink: #Soma protest inside Istanbul subway station pic.twitter.com/Z4qyRx6twE v @gamzecinlar @say_cem #sKazasDeilCinayet #Turkey
People lying in Istanbul metro in memory/protest for the + 200 deaths in #Soma mine #Turkey RT @reportturk pic.twitter.com/mRPjpkF6GP
9.46am BST
A parliamentary motion raising safety concerns at the Soma mines was submitted last October by Özgür Özel who represents the opposition for Republican Peoples Party for the Manisa province which includes Soma.
According to Hurriyet, it said: We demand an investigation into all the mine accidents in Soma to reveal the reasons and those responsible for the deaths in those accidents, to find permanent solutions to preventing a repeat of these cases, and to measure the sufficiency of the law enforcement and auditing of these institutions."
9.29am BST
The Soma mine is in the western province of Manisa about 150 miles south-west of Istanbul.
9.28am BST
Questions continue to be asked about why Erdogan's ruling AKP rejected calls for an investigation into the safety of the Soma mines last month. Images and video are being circulated of officials from the AKP chatting to each other while Özgür Özel, from the opposition CHP, raised the issue of mining safety brandishing a miner's hard hat, at a parliamentary debate last month.
While a deputy speaks during a parliamentary question leveled against govt over #Soma mine, pic of govt. 20 days ago. pic.twitter.com/vd60MrXlwu
8.56am BST
The owners of the mine and Erdogan's ruling AKP are facing mounting criticism about the safety record at the mine.
The hashtag #kazadegilcinayet, which translates as "murder not an accident" is trending on Twitter.
One miner from #Soma says "what inspection are you talking about" when asked whether the mine is inspected regularly #kazadegilcinayet
Political connections: wife of Turkish mining co. CEO won seat for Erdogan's AKP on regional council last month http://t.co/5s1q9dF37D
8.45am BST
The death toll has risen again, as the energy minister warned was likely.
The minister, Taner Yildiz, announced that 205 people are now known to have been killed.
#UPDATE: Death toll climbs to 205 in #Turkey #mining disaster, energy minister says http://t.co/o7jVY9SCSU
8.31am BST
Erdogan has announced three days of national mourning and ordered flags to flown at half-mast, according to the English language Turkish news site Today's Zaman.
The prime minister is due to visit the scene of the disaster later today.
PM Erdoan has ordered Turkish flags to half-staff as he declares 3-day national mourning after over 200 workers killed in coal mine.
8.27am BST
Injured miners are still emerging from the shaft, according to Hurriyet.
Six workers rescued in #Turkey #mining disaster 18 hours after deadly explosion http://t.co/WJwlrXGAFD pic.twitter.com/pqbAIFolDV
8.22am BST
A miner who was just 15 has been identified as one of the victims, according to the Dogan News Agency.
Kemal Yidiz was one of the 201 people known to have been killed so far, according to his uncle, the agency said.
Emine Gulsen, part of a group of women who sat wailing near the entrance to the mine, chanted in song, "My son is gone, my Mehmet."
Her son, Mehmet Gulsen, 31, has been working in the mine for five years.
Mehmet Gulsen's aunt, Makbule Dag, held out hope. "Inshallah" (God willing), she said.
8.08am BST
Erdogan's government has been accused of ignoring warnings about the safety of the mines in Soma.
Hurriyet commentator Murat Yetkin points out that Erdogan's ruling AKP rejected an opposition request for a safety inspection as recently as two weeks ago.
It was with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that rejected a demand for a parliamentary investigation regarding safety in the Soma mines just two weeks ago, on April 29.
It was the social democratic main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) that had submitted the proposal. Its deputy for Manisa (the province where the town of Soma located), Özgür Özel, had said on the parliamentary floor that there were reports of frequent mine accidents with death tolls that might be a concern and serve as warning for higher ones; therefore, Parliament should have a look at the matter in order to implement additional measures.
The answer came from an AKP MP from, again, Manisa, Muzaffer Yurtta, who said some of the mines were safer than the mines in many countries around the world (despite the fact that Turkey is one of the worst when it comes to coal mine accidents), the people had trust in the AK Party as the votes in the last elections showed and God willing nothing would happen "even a nose bleed.
After this speech, the CHP motion was rejected with the AKP 's votes. Has anyone thought to resign? Has anyone assumed responsibility for at least 201 miners lives so far?
7.46am BST
Turkey's energy minister has guarded against hope of rescuing hundreds of miners still trapped.
"We are worried that this death toll will rise ... I have to say that our hopes are dimming in terms of the rescue efforts," Taner Yildiz told reporters at the scene.
Heartbreaking.. When it all ends, really difficult questions have to be asked about work safety in Turkey!! pic.twitter.com/z25rFC6tlD
7.29am BST
Welcome to live coverage of the aftermath of a mining explosion in Soma in western Turkey which killed more than 200 miners and left hundreds more trapped underground.
Here's a summary of the main developments:
Continue reading...