22.06.2026 19:40
The body of worker Muhammet Özkul, who was trapped 6 days ago in a collapse at a mine in the Mengen district of Bolu, was recovered from the site after intensive efforts by rescue teams. The company owner had been arrested.
In the quarry operated by Yanar Elmas Mining company in Gökçesu town, a collapse occurred on the morning of June 17 in the area where workers entered the mine for a general inspection. Upon notification, gendarmerie, AFAD, fire brigade, and medical teams were dispatched to the region. During initial efforts, the worker Muhammet Özkul (49), who lost his life in the collapse, could not be reached. After the fire and accumulated dense gas in the quarry were evacuated by expert teams and a safe environment was established, search and rescue activities accelerated.
BODY RECOVERED 6 DAYS LATER
Efforts initiated by expert rescue teams affiliated with the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprise (TTK), along with fire brigade and AFAD personnel, to retrieve the deceased worker's body from under the collapse were completed today. The lifeless body of the worker Özkul, trapped under the collapse, was reached. As a result of the teams' work, Muhammet Özkul's lifeless body was removed from the mine and taken to the Morgue of Mengen District State Hospital.
COMPANY OWNER ARRESTED
Meanwhile, within the scope of the investigation launched by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the mining accident, 4 suspects detained by the District Gendarmerie Command units were referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the station; among the suspects, company owner D.Y. was arrested and sent to prison, while A.B. and İ.Y. were subjected to judicial control measures with house arrest. The other suspect was released after his questioning at the prosecutor's office.