Turkey's deadliest industrial disaster

Published May 15, 2014
Women mourn during the funeral of a miner who died in a fire at a coal mine, at a cemetery in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
Women mourn during the funeral of a miner who died in a fire at a coal mine, at a cemetery in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
A family member checks a list of names of miners injured in Wednesday's explosion, at a coal mine in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
A family member checks a list of names of miners injured in Wednesday's explosion, at a coal mine in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
A rescuer carries blankets from a coal mine a day after a mine explosion in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
A rescuer carries blankets from a coal mine a day after a mine explosion in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
Family members of miners take a rest in front of a coal mine a day after a mine explosion in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
Family members of miners take a rest in front of a coal mine a day after a mine explosion in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
Rescuers walk towards a coal mine site a day after a mine explosion in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
Rescuers walk towards a coal mine site a day after a mine explosion in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 15, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
A man sits near graves during the funeral of a miner who died in a fire at a coal mine, at a cemetery in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 14, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
A man sits near graves during the funeral of a miner who died in a fire at a coal mine, at a cemetery in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa May 14, 2014. – Photo by Reuters
People mourn near graves during a funeral ceremony in the western town of Soma in the Manisa province, on May 15, 2014 after the country's worst mining accident. – Photo by AFP
People mourn near graves during a funeral ceremony in the western town of Soma in the Manisa province, on May 15, 2014 after the country's worst mining accident. – Photo by AFP

Loudspeakers broadcast the names of the dead and excavators dug mass graves in this close-knit Turkish mining town on Thursday, while protesters gathered in major cities as grief turned to anger following the country's deadliest industrial disaster.

Rescuers were still trying to reach parts of the coal mine in Soma, 480 km (300 miles) southwest of Istanbul, almost 48 hours after fire knocked out power and shut down the ventilation shafts and elevators, trapping hundreds underground. At least 282 people have been confirmed dead, mostly from carbon monoxide poisoning, and hopes are fading of pulling out any more alive of the 100 or so still thought to be inside.

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