By NewsBlogger The Erzincan landslide at the Copler gold mine in Turkey has raised concerns about the country’s safety record, prompting rescue efforts and investigations into the incident.
At a glance
- The Erzincan landslide in Turkey has highlighted the country’s poor safety record, particularly at the Copler gold mine.
- Rescuers are working to save nine workers trapped in the mine, facing challenges such as cyanide-saturated soil.
- An investigation into the incident has led to the arrest of four individuals, including the field manager.
- Environmentalists are concerned about potential contamination in the Euphrates River from the mine’s operations.
- Turkey’s history of poor mine safety underscores the need for stricter regulations and enforcement in the industry.
The details
The Erzincan landslide in Turkey has brought attention to the country’s poor safety record, particularly in relation to the Copler gold mine.
Despite calls to shut down the mine from the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects, these warnings were not heeded.
Currently, rescuers are working tirelessly to save at least nine workers who are trapped within the mine.
The challenging conditions they face include searching through cyanide-saturated soil, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
In response to the incident, an investigation has been launched, leading to the arrest of four individuals, including the field manager.
The Copper mine, operated by Anagold and majority-owned by SSR Mining, has been a focal point of concern due to its history of environmental and safety issues.
Notably, the mine produced 56,768 ounces of gold in the third quarter of last year, raising questions about the balance between profitability and safety.
Environmentalists have expressed worries about potential cyanide and sulphuric acid contamination in the Euphrates River, emphasizing the need for preventive measures to avoid water pollution in the area.
This concern is further compounded by the mine’s previous closure in 2020 following a cyanide leak, only to reopen two years later.
The broader context of the situation highlights Turkey’s poor track record in mine safety, with past incidents resulting in tragic fatalities.
Engineers have consistently raised alarms about safety risks being overlooked and inadequate inspections, underscoring the need for stricter safety regulations and enforcement in the mining industry.
As the rescue efforts continue and investigations progress, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of the trapped workers and addressing the systemic issues that have led to this latest crisis at the Copler mine in Erzincan.
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| aljazeera.com |
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| – The Erzincan landslide has highlighted Turkey’s poor safety record – Calls to shut down the Copler mine in Turkey went unheeded – Rescuers are working to save at least nine trapped workers at the gold mine – The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects has called for the immediate closure of the Copler mine – Rescuers are searching through cyanide-saturated soil to find the trapped workers – 1,700 search and rescue personnel have been deployed to find the mine workers – An investigation has been launched, and four people, including the field manager, have been arrested – The mine is operated by Anagold, which is majority-owned by SSR Mining – The mine produced 56,768 ounces of gold in the third quarter of last year – Environmentalists are concerned about cyanide and sulphuric acid contamination in the Euphrates River – Efforts have been made to prevent water pollution in the area – The mine was previously closed in 2020 due to a cyanide leak but reopened two years later – Turkey has a poor mine safety record, with previous incidents resulting in fatalities – Engineers have warned about safety risks being ignored and inadequate inspections |
