00:00 In a frantic effort, hundreds of Turkish rescue workers are combing through a field contaminated
00:07 with cyanide, desperately searching for nine mine workers engulfed by a devastating landslide
00:13 on Tuesday.
00:15 Shocking images from the site depict the landslide cascading down a valley, colliding with the
00:21 road where some of the workers were travelling in a vehicle.
00:25 Ali Yerlikaya, Turkey's Interior Minister, expressed grave concern, stating that there
00:30 is still no word on the fate of nine individuals among the 667 employees at the gold mine located
00:38 in the Iliş district of the eastern Erzincan province.
00:43 Yerliyaka said, "We installed our rescue vehicles, our generators and our night-lighting equipment.
00:50 We have only one wish - to be able to give good news to the families of these brothers."
00:57 Experts and local authorities have highlighted the daunting challenge of the search effort
01:02 complicated by the presence of cyanide in the soil, a highly toxic compound commonly
01:08 used in gold ore extraction.
01:11 Basaran Aksu, a representative of the Independent Mining Labour Union, emphasized that the collapse
01:17 occurred in a cyanide soil area, indicating the necessity for specialized equipment in
01:23 the rescue operation.
01:25 The presence of cyanide in the soil adds complexity to the search, Aksu noted, underscoring that
01:31 this particular site is reported to be one of Turkey's largest cyanide fields.
01:36 Situated along the northern bank of the Karasu River, a significant tributary of the Euphrates,
01:42 the province faces environmental concerns exacerbated by the potential contamination
01:48 of vital waterways.
01:50 The Ministry of Environment has taken measures to mitigate the risk, sealing off a stream
01:55 connected to the open pit to prevent the contamination of the Euphrates.
02:00 This proactive approach follows previous environmental incidents, including a cyanide leak in 2022,
02:07 which prompted efforts by environmental activists and local officials to halt operations at
02:13 the mine.
02:14 Despite temporary closure and subsequent reopening after the operators' fine payment, the mine's
02:19 operations have remained contentious, sparking outcry from Turkey's opposition parties.
02:26 Turkey's susceptibility to deadly landslides and a history of mining accidents underscore
02:32 the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures and regulatory oversight in the mining sector.
02:38 [Music]
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