TASSA Commentary on SOMA Mining Accident

As the community of Turkish Scientists and Scholars living in the United States, we are deeply saddened about the mining tragedy in SOMA that cost the lives of more than three hundred miners. Our heart-felt condolences go out to the miners’ loved ones whose husbands, uncles, brothers, or sons paid the ultimate price.  The mining accident in Soma will probably go down as the worst mining accident in Turkey’s history. Our hope is that it will be the last mine tragedy for Turkey.

The tragedy also highlights serious safety and security issues in Turkey’s mining industry.  Although coal mining is one of the deadliest professions, many industrialized nations have minimized accidents and deaths by using scientifically proven safety measures and adopting zero-tolerance regulations.  We strongly urge the Turkish Government to ratify the International Labor Organization’s convention regarding safety and health in mines (ILO Convention No. 176, 1995) which, if implemented, is effective in preventing future accidents.

Science Academies in Turkey issue statements on Soma tragedy:

http://bilimakademisi.org/soma-maden-faciasina-iliskin-duyuru/

http://bilimakademisi.org/category/soma/

http://www.tuba.gov.tr/news/basimiz-sagolsun/id/950

Photo by Mustafa Karaman