Several miners have been killed and hundreds are believed to be trapped after an explosion and fire at a mine in Manisa province in western Turkey. Relatives of the miners have gone to the mine to help, Radio New Zealand reports.
The BBC reported that those trapped were about 2km below the surface and 4km from the mine's exit.
Search and rescue operations are underway.
It was estimated that 580 workers were underground at the time of the blast, but that many escaped.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul ordered the regional governor to deploy all resources to rescue the miners.
Quoting health officials, local MP Muzaffer Yurttas earlier told broadcaster NTV that 20 bodies had been retrieved and that at least another 20 workers had been taken to hospital. But he said later that four people had been killed.
"They died of choking and burns," he said.
According to the BBC a senior local official, Mehmet Bahattin Atci, said thick smoke at the privately-owned mine was hampering rescue efforts.
Energy Ministry Taner Yildiz was to go to Soma to oversee the rescue operation, NTV said.
He told reporters that the fire at the mine was triggered by an electrical fault.