5 dead, 2 missing in Turkish mine accident

ANKARA, Turkey — An official says a gas leak inside a coal mine in northern Turkey has killed five workers and injured one. Two other miners are missing and feared dead.

Burhan Inan, head of Turkey’s mining authority, says the leak occurred Monday and that rescuers have recovered the bodies of five miners and rescued a sixth alive from the mine in Zonguldak province.

Inan said rescuers are now trying to reach the two missing miners who are believed trapped beneath coal dust from the powerful methane gas leak.

The accident comes at a time when Turkey is trying to improve safety in its mines and shutting down dangerous mines or those operating without proper licenses. In Turkey’s worst mine disaster, a gas explosion killed 270 workers near Zonguldak in 1992.