UPDATES WITH SIRNAK GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT
By Muhammed Furkan Gunes, Ekrem Payan, Nuran Erkul and Sarp Ozer
SIRNAK/ANKARA (AA) - Six workers were killed when a coal mine collapsed in southeastern Sirnak province on Tuesday, according to regional governor's office.
In a statement, Sirnak Governor's Office said a critically-injured worker was under treatment while rescue work remains ongoing for another worker still trapped in the wreckage.
Judicial authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident to see if the incident was caused by lack of safety measures or a terrorist attack, the statement added.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority and health teams were continuing their efforts at the accident site.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the mine did not have a working license since 2013.
“Work in the area is illegal,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security said in its statement that it too had launched an investigation into the collapse.
Findings will be shared with the public, it added.