Youngest victim of Turkey mining disaster 'earned £1.90 an hour'

18-year-old Ridvan Kazanci, who worked 10 hours per day in a treacherous conditions, earned only £1.90 an hour according to his family.

13:07 16 May 2014

18-year-old Ridvan Kazanci has been revealed as the youngest victim of the Turkish mining disaster. He earned just £1.90 an hour and worked for 10 hours per day in treacherous conditions. 

 

His brokenhearted and grieving family have given up hope and said that there is zero chance that he will be brought out alive. One of his colleagues, who was not working at the time of the explosion in Soma has slammed bosses over serious safety issues. He said: “They sent us here like lambs to the slaughter – none of us is safe doing this job.”

 

Unions have staged a national strike over the serious decline in safety of mines that were leased by the government to private firms. Thousands of people took the street holding banners with slogan such as: "It is not accident, it is not fate, it is murder.” 

 

Riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters as they marched to the labour ministry. 

 

Rescuers are continuing with the search operation. However, they do not expect anyone to survive the blast or the ensuing fire. 

 

The mining disaster death toll has reached 282 and could rise to more than 400.