Turkey pledges aid after mine tragedy

The impact on families from the Turkish mining disaster are being felt, with more than 400 children now fatherless and families without their sole earner.

The mining disaster last week in western Turkey, which killed 301 miners, left 432 children without fathers, the social affairs minister says.

"The average age of these children is 10 years old," said Aysenur Islam according to state-run Anadolu new agency.

The government pledged to give aid to those in need.

Most of the men who died in the country's worst ever mining disaster at the coal mine in Soma were the sole breadwinners of their families.

Meanwhile, a group of miners who staged a sit-in outside the Soma district governorate met with government officials, including Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and embattled Labor Minister Faruk Celik.

The miners are demanding improvements to safety standards before they agree to go back to work in the area.

Parliament met on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss improving safety, but no resolution was passed.

Miners who worked on the Soma Holdings mine told dpa they lack information on when they will return to work, and if they will receive salaries while the mine is closed.

"Nobody cares about us," said one miner, requesting anonymity as he is concerned about repercussions for speaking out.

"We don't know who will pay our salary."

Eight officials from the company, including the chief executive officer, were arrested this week.

The exact cause of the accident remains unknown as investigations continue, but the company denies any negligence.


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Source: AAP



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