Turkish mine rescue workers end their search after retrieving last two bodies

Death toll from Turkey's worst ever industrial disaster stands at 301 after final search delayed by new fire overnight

• theguardian.com, Saturday 17 May 2014 16.37 BST

Rescue operations continue on Saturday at the Soma coalmine in Turkey where the death toll has reached 301. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Rescue workers have completed their search in Turkey's worst mining disaster after retrieving the bodies of the last two missing miners on Saturday morning.
The death toll now stands at 301 from the fire that devastated a coalmine in Soma, western Turkey.
Final rescue efforts were delayed after a new fire broke out underground on Friday night. Rescue teams were seen retreating as firefighters moved in to tackle the blaze.
"Our efforts will be coming to an end," the energy minister, Taner Yıldız, said earlier. "However, our friends will be scouring all corners once again."

Fury has swept Turkey over authorities' handling of the disaster. On Friday Turkish police used teargas, plastic bullets and water cannon to disperse hundreds of demonstrators in the town of Soma. About 1,500 protesters chanted anti-government slogans after the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said: "This is what happens in coalmining."
Yusef Yerkel, a close aide to Erdoğan, was photographed kicking a man believed to be grieving for relatives lost in the disaster. The prime minister's office distanced itself from the incident, with one official saying the issue was Yerkel's "own personal matter." (...)