On Friday night, Turkish Interior Ministry announced a two-day curfew in 31 cities as part of measures against coronavirus. The curfew involves the Zonguldak city in the north of country and 30 metropolitan cities including Manisa.

The Union of Independent Miners announced on social media that the mining enterprises in Soma region of Manisa have not suspended the work despite the curfew. The enterprises in question- Yeni Anadolu, Polyak, Demirexport, İmbat and Kolin- sent a message to miners and informed that the work will continue in three shifts.

In the meantime, three miners -Ersin Özdağan, Salih Ayber and Erdinç Karaevli- lost their life on April 10 as result of a landslide at a mine operated by Imbat Mining in Soma region.

BACKGROUND

The district of Soma in the province of Manisa in the Aegean region of Turkey has become sadly famous after the explosion at a coal mine owned by Soma Holding. 301 miners were killed in what was the worst mine disaster in Turkey's history on 13 May 2014.

After the massacre Erdoğan said: “In this accident there is the hand of nature”.

The trial to punish the responsible of the Soma mine disaster has not done justice to the dead. Those responsible on trial to give an account on the massacre were given sentences ranging from 15 to 18 years for “involuntarily causing murder”.

The families of the 301 miners who died in the disaster said that the sentences given were light and did no justice.