No Workers Left Trapped Underground in İliç Mining Disaster
All workers trapped in İliç mine landslide removed, to be sent to hometowns for burial
In the aftermath of the devastating landslide that occurred in the mine in the İliç district of Erzincan, the bodies of all the workers who were buried under tons of soil have been successfully retrieved. The identities of the workers have been confirmed at the Diyarbakır Forensic Medicine Institute, and they will be honored with a ceremony before being sent to their respective hometowns today.
The tragic incident took place on February 13 at a gold mining site in İliç, where 9 workers were trapped beneath a massive pile of soil. Through extensive search efforts involving machinery and hundreds of personnel, the bodies of Uğur Yıldız, Adnan Keklik, Ramazan Çimen, and Kenan Öz were recovered, and emotional farewells were bid as they were laid to rest in their hometowns.
Further search operations led to the discovery of the bodies of Mehmet Kazar, Fahrettin Keklik, Abdurrahman Şahin, Şaban Yılmaz, and Hüseyin Kara, who were also buried underground. Due to the condition of the bodies being unrecognizable, DNA samples were obtained from the families to confirm their identities at the Diyarbakır Forensic Medicine Institute.
In a show of solidarity and respect, AK Party Erzincan Deputy Süleyman Karaman announced that Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar would be attending the funeral ceremony for the workers, to be held during the noon prayer. The bodies of the deceased miners will be transported to their hometowns following a mass funeral prayer at the Erzincan Terzibaba Mosque.
The community mourns the loss of Fahrettin Keklik and Şaban Yılmaz, both husbands and fathers, whose funerals will take place in the district cemetery in İliç after the afternoon prayer and funeral service at the Yusuf Ziya Demir Mosque. Mehmet Kazar, a father of three, will be laid to rest in Osmaniye, Abdurrahman Şahin, a father of one, in Sivas center, and Hüseyin Kara, a single individual, in the Gürün district of Sivas.
As the town gathers to say their final goodbyes, the memory of these hardworking individuals will forever be cherished in the hearts of their loved ones and the community.
