Coal mine explosion in northwestern Turkey kills two and leaves one miner trapped

An explosion at a coal mine in northwestern Turkey has killed at least two miners and left one person trapped underground, according to local authorities. The blast happened in the town of Gelik in Zonguldak province, an area with a long history of coal mining. Emergency crews were sent to the site after the explosion, which was caused by firedamp, a flammable gas found in mines.

Zonguldak governor Osman Hacibektasoglu said eight people were in the tunnel when the explosion occurred at around 10:00 local time. Seven miners were rescued, while two of those taken to hospital later died. Five people were injured in total, including two who were reported to be in serious condition.

One of the critically injured miners was transferred to Ankara, and preparations were under way to move the second. Officials said rescue teams had made contact with the miner still inside the mine and were continuing efforts to bring him out. The response included personnel from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, along with medical and fire crews.

Authorities also opened an investigation into the cause of the blast at the private mine, which was reported to be owned by Demir Madencilik. The incident adds to concerns about mine safety in Turkey, where fatal accidents have remained a recurring problem. Earlier this month, five people were killed in a coal mine collapse in Soma, in western Turkey.

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The independent Worker Health and Work Safety Assembly has said 1,267 miners died in workplace accidents between 2013 and 2025, with cave-ins and suffocation among the most common causes. The latest explosion is significant because it combines a rescue operation with a wider safety question for the country's mining sector. Coal mining remains a hazardous industry, and incidents involving gas explosions can develop quickly and leave little time for escape.

The fact that one miner remains underground means the immediate focus is still on rescue, even as investigators begin to examine what went wrong. What remains unclear is the condition of the trapped miner and whether the rescue effort will succeed without further injuries. It is also not yet known what specific safety measures were in place at the time of the explosion.

The investigation is expected to determine the exact sequence of events and whether the blast was linked to ventilation, gas buildup, or another technical failure.

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