Company 'forged' documents at Turkish mine disaster site: probe

The company that owned the Soma mine in Turkey, where over 300 people died after an explosion and collapse, are alleged to have “forged” information in the official records hiding repeated instances of carbon monoxide in the mine breaching the maximum limits.

An investigation that took place in the wake of the mining disaster, thought to have been the worst in Turkey’s history, showed (using digital information collected by sensors) that there were regular breaches of safe carbon monoxide levels at the mine, but there was no recording made of this in the official documents.

“The data collected from sensors were forged as they were recorded in the record books,” said Selçuk Kozağaçlı, head of the Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) and one of those investigating the disaster, to Hurrit.

“So, in the background of this disaster, we are seeing a crime of forgery.”

Prosecutors have already announced 39 suspects in the investigation into criminal complicity in the disaster, including three who died in the disaster.

Can Gurkan, CEO of the Soma Coal Mine company - and son of owner Alp Gurkan - has already been charged with “causing multiple deaths” as has Ramazn Dogru, the general manager of the company.

Controversial reactions to the accident from various political figures and officials helped stoke tension in Turkey.

Initially the company denied its safety standards were subpar.

"Unfortunately, some of our workers have lost their lives in this tragic accident," the company wrote in a statement.

"The accident happened despite maximum safety measures and inspections, but we have been able to take prompt action," it added.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also stoked controversy by seeming to initially play down the seriousness of the accident.

The problem was further compounded after one of his advisors was seen kicking one of the relatives of a victim of the disaster at a demonstration following the mine’s collapse.

More than 3,000 people have died and over 100,000 injured in mining accidents since 1941 in Turkey, government statistics agency TurkStat's figures show.