Following a landslide at SSR Mining’s Çöpler Mine in Turkey that left nine workers unaccounted for, Turkey canceled the environmental licenses for the mine. Eight SSR Mining employees were taken into custody while local authorities continued to investigate the incident that took place on Feb. 13.

The incident dislodged 10 million cubic meters of earth across a 200-meter slope.

“Search and rescue operations to locate nine missing workers following the February 13, 2024 incident at the Çöpler Mine continue and all operations remain suspended. All available resources have been deployed to assist in the operation, with emergency crews and first responders working around-the-clock, utilizing advanced search techniques supported by aerial drones. Our thoughts continue to be with the families of the missing workers and the Çöpler community during this incredibly difficult time. We will continue to support the authorities on the ground in Turkey in their search and rescue efforts,” SSR Mining reported on Feb. 16.

According to reports, the missing workers remained trapped under the soil on Feb. 19, and Turkey’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said that rescue efforts continue. Bayraktar also said tests so far didn’t show any contamination in waters nearby the area.

The mine, located about 500 km (310 miles) east of Ankara, Turkey’s capital, is operated by Anagold Madencilik, which is 80 percent owned by Denver-based metals producer SSR Mining.

Reuters reported that as authorities continue to conduct an investigation into the incident, six people including a Canadian national are detained, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The mine’s two licenses issued by Turkey’s Energy Ministry are currently valid, with the company’s operating license set to expire in 2026. Yet production at the mine can’t resume until necessary arrangements are made to address the landslide and waste issues in the area, according to the ministry.

 Photo: SSR Mining