SOMA — At least 201 people were killed and hundreds more remained trapped underground after an explosion at a coal mine in western Turkey, the government said on Wednesday, warning that rescue efforts faced a race against time.The toll has risen rapidly since Tuesday’s disaster in the province of Manisa, when a total of 787 mineworkers became trapped inside the mine. Rescue operations continued overnight for the hundreds of people still underground. Of those rescued alive, 80 were injured, four of them seriously, said Energy Minister Taner Yildiz."We fear the number could rise even further because those who came to help out may be among the injured and affected by the smoke," he told reporters."As the time passes, we are very quickly heading to an unfavourable outcome," he added.Earlier a security source told AFP that there were pockets in the mine, one of which was open so rescuers were able to reach the workers, but the second was blocked with workers trapped inside.The explosion ...
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