Sun News Desk: At least 40 people were killed and dozens remain trapped underground after an explosion inside a coal mine in northern Turkey's Bartin province, Turkish officials said.

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The explosion occurred on Friday at the state-owned TTK Amasra Muessese Mudurlugu mine in the town of Amasra.

Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said a primary assessment indicated the explosion was likely caused by firedamp that 40 people had lost their lives.

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Suleyman Soylu, Interior Minister, told reporters that There were 110 people in the mine at the time of the explosion. Most of the workers were able to evacuate following the blast, but 49 were trapped in a higher risk area of the facility who have been lifted to safety.

However, Soylu did not provide any information who many workers are still trapped.

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Turkey’s disaster management agency, AFAD, said, Several rescue teams were sent to the area, including from neighbouring provinces.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would cancel all his other arrangements and fly to the scene of the accident on Saturday.

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“Our hope is that the loss of life will not increase further, that our miners will be found alive, All of our efforts are aimed in this direction.”
Erdogan said in a tweet.

Video footage shows miners emerging blackened and bleary-eyed accompanied by rescuers at the facility in Amasra, on the Black Sea coast.

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The family and friends of the missing could also be seen at the mine, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

In Turkey’s worst mine disaster, a total of 301 people died in 2014 in a fire inside a coal mine in the town of Soma, western Turkey.

Sun News/MR

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