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

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

Within the scope of the investigation by Zonguldak Public Prosecutor's Office, company official and employer M.S.D., occupational health and safety expert E.Y., and mining engineer Y.Ç. who were taken into custody were referred to the courthouse following police procedures. The prosecutor, who requested the arrest of all three on charges of "negligent homicide and injury," sent the suspects to the court; the court decided to remand them in custody. A warrant for the arrest of fugitive mine manager M.K. has been issued.

Of the 8 workers present in the pit at the time of the explosion caused by methane gas accumulation, Cengizhan Bükrübaş, Recep Çolakoğlu, and Murat Kaya lost their lives. The injured—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 Public Prosecutor's Office assigned one Deputy Chief Prosecutor and two prosecutors to the investigation and established an expert panel.