Mining engineers suspect production pressure caused Çayırhan collapse that killed one
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A roof collapse at the Çayırhan coal mine in Ankara killed one worker and injured 21 on August 23, 2026. Mining engineers from the Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey said the accident mirrors a similar collapse a year earlier that injured 14. They suspect production pressure and inadequate safety measures after privatization contributed to the collapse.
Key Facts
- The collapse at the Çayırhan coal mine killed one worker and injured 21 on August 23, 2026.
- A similar collapse at the same mine a year earlier injured 14 miners, according to Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey President Ayhan Yüksel.
- Former TTK Deputy General Manager Dursun Akyürek said the accident likely stemmed from production pressure, high production speed, and lack of precautions.
- The Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey stated after last year's accident that workers were forced into production without necessary occupational safety measures.
The Collapse
A roof collapse occurred at the Çayırhan coal mine in Ankara on August 23, 2026, killing one worker and injuring 21. The accident happened during excavation work at the mine's casting site in Osmaneli district of Bilecik. One worker trapped under the collapse was severely injured.
Engineers' Suspicions
Former TTK Deputy General Manager and mining engineer Dursun Akyürek told SÖZCÜ that serious doubts have arisen about the production system, support practices, and inspection processes after privatization. Akyürek said rapid production means a quickly growing void behind the support, creating conditions for a sudden collapse that can cause death. He noted that it is unknown what investments were made after privatization.
Repeated Accident
Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey President Ayhan Yüksel said the accident that killed one worker and injured 21 was caused by the same reason as a collapse a year earlier. Yüksel recalled that 14 miners were injured in the same mine last year. He stated that experiencing the same accident one year apart is unacceptable with today's technical capabilities. The Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey noted after last year's accident that workers were forced into production without necessary occupational safety measures.
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Mining engineers suspect production pressure caused Çayırhan collapse that killed one
