BALIKESIR, Turkey, June 2 (UPI) -- At least 17 Turkish coal miners were killed Friday in an explosion and collapse of a private mine near Balikesir, officials said.
Turkey's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Himli Guler, who made the announcement, said 35 miners escaped but three others were trapped and rescue operations were under way, the Hurriyet news service reported.
Advertisement
Guler said all of the miners were from villages near the mine in central Turkey.
Hurriyet said the mine, operated by Sentas, had been in operation since 1960.