Mine explosion in Zonguldak: Zonguldak Peace Criminal Court detains 3 people, fugitive manager sought

Zonguldak Peace Criminal Court has detained three suspects in connection with a firedamp explosion that occurred on October 23 at a private coal mine in Gelik township, Kilimli district.

Following an investigation by Zonguldak Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the company official and employer M.S.D., occupational safety and health expert E.Y., and mining engineer Y.Ç. were brought to court after police processing. The prosecutor, who requested detention for all three on charges of causing death and injury by culpable negligence, referred the suspects to the court; the court ordered their detention. A warrant has been issued for fugitive mine operator M.K.

Of the eight workers present at the mine at the time of the explosion caused by methane gas accumulation, Cengizhan Bükrübaş, Recep Çolakoğlu, and Murat Kaya died. Injured workers Cemal Arslan (45), Okan Dinçer (38), Soner Dinçer (34), Ercan Akdal (40), and Kurtuluş Elmas (38) were taken to hospital; Arslan and Okan Dinçer were transferred to Ankara due to their critical condition.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office assigned one Deputy Chief Prosecutor and two Public Prosecutors to the investigation and formed an expert panel.