Turkey’s coal mine explosion leaves over 200 workers dead

Reports show that an explosion at a coal mine in western Turkey has left at least over 200 workers dead and scores injured.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said 787 people were inside the mine at Soma in Manisa province when an electrical fault triggered the blast.

Rescuers worked through the night to try to reach hundreds more miners still trapped underground.

Worried relatives have gathered near the privately owned mine, about 450km west of the capital Ankara.

Police were keeping the crowds back to allow emergency services in and out of the area.

More than 250 miners lost their lives in one of the worst mining accidents happened in the same town in 1992.