ISTANBUL, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a firedamp explosion at a private coal mine in Türkiye's northern Zonguldak province has risen to three, with five others injured, authorities said Friday.
The incident occurred at 10 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) in Gelik town in the Kilimli district, Zonguldak Governor Osman Hacibektasoglu said.
The casualty count rose to three after search and rescue teams recovered the body of a miner trapped underground following the blast, Hacibektasoglu said.
The five injured workers are receiving treatment at a local hospital, he added.
According to Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, the explosion was caused by methane gas accumulation.
Gurlek noted that the Zonguldak Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an urgent investigation, assigning a deputy chief public prosecutor and two public prosecutors to the case. ■