Coal mine explosion traps 17 workers in Turkey

ANKARA - A gas explosion caused a coal mine in western Turkey to collapse Thursday, trapping 17 workers deep underground, a local official told the national news agency Anatolia.
Two people were rescued slightly injured from the state-run mine near Gediz, in the province of Kutahya, Gediz sub-governor Ali Nazim Balcioglu said.
The 17 workers were trapped in a gallery about 300 meters (985 feet) underground, he said.
Local rescuers were working to save the miners, while two specialized search-and-rescue teams were on their way to join the effort, he said.
Gas explosions are common in Turkey, particularly in privately-run mines where respect for safety regulations is often minimal.

04/21/2005 13:30 GMT