Rescue Forces in a Desperate Race to Free Trapped Workers After Mine Landslide in Turkey

In eastern Turkey, a massive landslide has left nine gold field workers missing. The incident occurred when approximately 10 million cubic metres of earth suddenly collapsed from a gulley onto the Copler mine site. As the search for the missing workers continues, four individuals, including the field manager, have been arrested during the investigation into the incident. Moreover, concerns have emerged about the potential leakage of dangerous chemicals from the site, which could lead to a broader environmental disaster. Former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim visited the mine and stated that while some workers were able to escape, nine remain unaccounted for. It is believed that five of the trapped workers are in a container, three in a vehicle, and one in a truck in a separate area of the site. The Copler mine, one of Turkey's largest, is located in Erzincan province, approximately 90km from the provincial capital and over 600km east of Ankara. Alongside the search and rescue efforts, authorities are working to prevent the spread of chemicals, including cyanide, used in gold extraction into the nearby Euphrates River, which flows into Syria and Iraq before reaching the Persian Gulf. The Turkish environmental ministry stated that there is currently no evidence of pollution in the river, and precautionary measures have been taken, such as sealing off culverts to prevent contamination. Mine experts had previously warned about the dangers posed by the gold mine, given its proximity to an active fault line and the Euphrates River. The incident is being described as a terrible environmental disaster, risking the poisoning of the river that has nourished Mesopotamia for thousands of years. The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects has called for the permanent closure of the Copler mine, which had faced previous attempts to shut it down due to a cyanide leak in 2022. The company operating the mine, Anagold Mining, was fined but allowed to remain open. Following the landslide, SSR Mining, which is a partial owner of Anagold, halted production at the site, causing a significant decline in their stock value. Unfortunately, this event adds to the series of mining accidents that have occurred in Turkey in recent years, including a coal mine explosion in 2022 that claimed the lives of 42 individuals.