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Scene of the accident in Turkey (photo taken on February 14th)
Photo: AFP
The case is now occupying the highest political circles - and questions about responsibility are becoming louder and louder. After a landslide at a gold mine in Turkey buried nine miners, the government has closed the mine. The Turkish Environment Ministry withdrew the “environmental permit” on Saturday, without which the mining company cannot continue its activities. Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar also said six mine managers were arrested on Friday evening.
Last Tuesday, ten million cubic meters of mud and rubble began to slide in the open-cast mine in the northeastern province of Erzincan. Nine miners were buried and have not yet been found. According to a preliminary expert report, those responsible for the mine had not taken the necessary precautionary measures, even though they were aware of cracks in the heap.
According to Turkish media reports, among those arrested was a Canadian who worked for the operating company Anagold. 80 percent of Anagold is held by Toronto and Denver-based SSR Mining, with the rest owned by Turkish company Lidya.
Concern about water in the nearby Euphrates
According to Energy Minister Bayraktar, rescue work for the nine buried miners has been intensified since Friday evening. In addition, the cyanide used in gold extraction should be avoided from contaminating the water of the nearby Euphrates River, he said. "Removing the masses of earth that cover the riverbed is our priority."
The mine, where 667 people worked, was closed for a few months in 2022 after a cyanide leak caused by a burst pipe. However, it was reopened after the operators paid a fine, sparking protests from Turkish opposition parties.
jok/AFP