Moments of anxiety from family members awaiting the fate of their kin in Tuesday’s mine explosion in western Turkey mixed with moments of jubilation as some of the miners were rescued from the disaster.
Relatives of miners react as they wait in front of a coal mine in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa on May 14, 2014. Reuters
Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed Wednesday that 232 people were killed in the explosion. Erdogan canceled a planned visit to Albania so he can go to the site of the mine explosion in Soma.
"We are heading towards this accident likely being the deadliest ever in Turkey," Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Reuters.
A rescued miner surrounded by relatives, medics and other miners cries after being rescued from a coal mine he was in trapped in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 13, 2014. Reuters
About 93 miners were rescued from the explosion, but more than 100 are still believed to be trapped inside the mine. The explosion led to a fire inside the mine.
An injured miner is carried into a hospital in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 13, 2014. Reuters
Relatives of miners who are trapped in a coal mine wait in front of a hospital in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 14, 2014. Reuters
It was believed that there were about 800 miners trapped, but the incident occurred during a shift change, causing uncertainty as to exactly how many people were inside the mine during the explosion and fire. The rescue operation is being hampered by the underground fire, which was still raging Wednesday, Yildiz said.
Relatives of miners who are trapped in a coal mine wait in front of a hospital in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 14, 2014. Reuters
Relatives of miners who are trapped in a coal mine wait in front of a hospital in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 13, 2014. Reuters
A relative of a miner cries as she arrives at an accident site where coal miners are trapped near Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 13, 2014. Reuters
Many families haven't heard word on the fate of their kin. A woman, in the photo above, is seen sitting and crying as she tried to comprehend the disaster.
Locals and relatives of miners who are trapped in a coal mine wait in front of a hospital in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 13, 2014. Reuters
A general view of a coal mine where miners are trapped near Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 13, 2014. Reuters
The body of a miner is carried to an ambulance in Soma, a district in Turkey's western province of Manisa, May 14, 2014.Reuters
