s o m a mayis, 2014
s o m a - On 13 May 2014, an explosion at a coal mine in Soma, Manisa, Turkey, caused an underground mine fire, which burned until 15 May. The disaster has quickly metastasized from local tragedy into new political crisis for Prime Min Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has aggravated public outrage with highhanded remarks; security forces shoot tear gas and water cannons at thousand of protesters in Soma, further heightening antigovernment sentiment.
“This is how they steal people’s lives,” said the grieving man, Bayram Uckun, who like many people here has become increasingly angry with Turkey’s leadership for its response to Tuesday’s explosion at the mine.
“This government is taking our country back 90 years.” May 2014.