FOG BLOG WORLD NEWS LOG: TURKISH MINE EXPLOSION DEATH COUNT RISES TO 41!

Death toll rises to 41 in Turkey coal mine explosion Blast likely caused by flammable gases, energy minister says The death toll from a coal mine explosion in northern Turkey rose to at least 41 people on Saturday, officials said.

Desperate relatives had waited all night in the cold outside the state-owned TTK Amasra Muessese Mudurlugu mine in the town of Amasra, in the Black Sea coastal province of Bartin, hoping for news. There were 110 miners working in the shaft when the explosion occurred on Friday evening.

Their wait turned to devastation by noon Saturday. Women cried at the funeral of miner Selcuk Ayvaz, whose coffin was wrapped in the red and white Turkish flag.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the scene and said the body of one missing miner had been reached, confirming 41 were dead. Erdogan was flanked by officials, miners and rescuers, as he vowed to bring an end to mining disasters.

"We don't want to see deficiencies or unnecessary risks," Erdogan said, adding that an investigation would reveal those responsible for the blast.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Saturday that 11 miners were injured and hospitalized, while 58 others managed to get out of the mine on their own or were rescued unharmed.