Executives from the mine operator are reportedly among those detained after the country's worst industrial disaster

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Turkish police have detained 18 people suspected of negligence in connection with this week's deadly mine disaster, including executives from the mine operator, local media reported.

Rescue operations ended on Saturday after the bodies of the last two trapped miners were recovered, following the country's worst industrial disaster, which killed 301 people.

Dozens of prosecutors are investigating the fire and explosion, which are believed to have been sparked by an electrical fault at a private mine in the western district of Soma.

Mine operator Soma Komur vehemently denied any negligence.

"We have all worked very hard. I have not seen such an incident in 20 years," its general director, Akin Celik, said. It was not clear whether Celik was among those detained.

A preliminary expert report on the incident obtained by the Milliyet newspaper pointed to several safety violations in the mine, including a shortage of carbon monoxide detectors and ceilings made of wood instead of metal.

The disaster has led to a surge of anger in Turkey, fuelled by what many saw as a heartless response from the government.