Thirteen workers were injured in a collapse of the Çayırhan Mine in the Hırkatepe neighbourhood of Ankara, Turkey, in the early hours of 10 April. It is believed that the collapse took place due to a sudden change of air pressure in the mine. Fire, health, gendarmerie, and disaster relief teams were rushed to the scene, and two of the miners received medical attention at Bilkent City Hospital, where one is believed to be in serious condition.
The governor of Ankara, Vasip Sahin, confirmed the incident, stating that 29 workers were in the mine at the time. It is not the first time that such a collapse has taken place in the Çayırhan Mine, with 15 workers previously injured on 5 October 2023, three of whom were hospitalised. An investigation is still underway into the exact causes of these collapses.
Çayırhan Mine workers were protesting less than two months ago against the privatisation of the Çayırhan thermal power plant and quarry. The president of the Mine Workers’ Union, Nurettin Akçul, claimed that privatisation of the site is “almost like signing our death warrant”. With the demands of the workers unmet, Akçul stressed the significance of their protest not only for the energy and mining sector but for all workers in Turkey in his speech on 13 February, fainting immediately after speaking due to low blood pressure.
