A Turkish gold mine where nine workers died in a landslide in February said Monday it was laying off nearly 200 workers, sparking outrage among unions, Agence France-Presse reported.
The Anagold company blamed a “difficult economic situation” caused by the halt of its mining activities for its decision to lay off 187 workers at the Çöpler mine in Erzincan province, which employs 667 miners.
A torrent of mud swept through the mine in February, trapping nine workers. The mine’s environmental license, confirming its compliance with environmental regulations, was later revoked.
The Independent Mining Workers’ Union (Bağımsız Maden-İş) said Anagold, which is 80 percent owned by US-Canadian concern SSR Mining, should pay for its “safety deficiencies.”
The union’s lawyer, Mert Batur, told AFP that it was Anagold’s own actions that led to the withdrawal of its license. He said the exploitation of the mine and its environmental effects make it almost impossible for the residents of the region to find other ways to make a living there.
“Anagold should continue to bear the economic cost of its actions and pay the salaries of its workers,” the lawyer added.
According to a preliminary report on the deaths in February, reported by Turkish media, mine managers failed to take the necessary safety measures after cracks appeared in mountains of earth that caused the disaster.
Six mine officials were taken into custody.
The mine made headlines in 2022 when there was a cyanide leak that forced a brief halt in its operations. Anagold reopened the mine after paying a fine, despite protests.