Turkish miners trapped 1,020 meters underground Hurriyet Daily News July 8, 2010 Three workers remained trapped Thursday in a private coal mine in northwestern Turkey after a fire caused a cave-in in Edirne’s Keşan town. Rescue workers led by Turkey’s official coal mine agency were continuing their efforts to reach the workers trapped 1,020 meters underground as the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to press. The fire broke out at 1 p.m. Wednesday at a mine owned by the Kale Company. A team of 20 tried for hours to reach Yunus Aktaş, Halil Açıkgöz and Volkan Hamarat, who were on the 12th level of the mine.  Officials announced Thursday that the rescue team had reached the 10th level and were pumping air into the mine for the trapped men. Through Thursday, more than 150 tons of water was also pumped into the mine in an attempt to put out the fire. Edirne Gov. Gökhan Sözer told reporters Thursday afternoon that the fire had slowed the rescue effort.  “The officials contacted the trapped miners when the fire broke out and told them to move to a safe location,” he said.  “The location is being provided with fresh air and there is a good chance the workers are still alive.” Mehmet Torun, the executive board chairman of the Chamber of Mining Engineers, entered the mine along with four engineers and inspected the situation for two hours.  “We are here to help the rescue works and might prepare a renewed plan based on our observations,” he said. Ali Hamarat, the father of trapped miner Volkan Hamarat, told the Anatolia news agency that his son had survived a gas explosion in a private mining facility in the Black Sea province of Zonguldak.  “I believe he will survive again,” his father said. A relative of Halil Açıkgöz said the miner has only two months left before he is able to retire. At least 28 miners were killed in a May 17 explosion at a coal mine in Zonguldak.  Inspection practices at state and private mines have come under scrutiny as a result of the deadly accident.