Toll rises to 245 in Turkey mine disaster

Turkey has put the death toll from the devastating mine blast at 245, and a coal mine operator said nearly 450 of its workers had been rescued.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said the ongoing fire and toxic carbon monoxide fumes were hampering rescue efforts at the mine in the western town of Soma.

The mine operator Soma Komur said in a statement that close to 450 of its workers had been rescued since the explosion on Tuesday.