Report: 23 trapped in collapsed mine in southern Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey’s state-run television says a coal mine in southern Turkey has collapsed, trapping 23 workers inside.

TRT television says the tragedy occurred Tuesday in the town of Ermenek, in Karaman province, and that eight other miners were quickly rescued. Private Dogan news agency said rescue teams were trying to pull out the trapped miners.

The mine collapse was likely to raise more concerns about persistent mine safety issues in the country.

In May, a fire inside a coal mine in Soma, western Turkey, killed 301 people. Turkey’s worst mining disaster, it exposed poor safety standards and superficial government inspections in the country’s mines.