SSR Mining has halted operations at its Çöpler mine in Turkey after a substantial slip on the heap leach pad.

The incident occurred on the morning of 13 February 2024, leading to a complete suspension of activities at the site.

Located in east-central Türkiye in the Erzincan Province, about 1,100km south-east from Istanbul and 550km east from Ankara, the Çöpler mine has been operating since 2010.

SSR Mining owns an 80% stake in the mine, which processes ore through two producing plants. Anagold Mining operates the Çöpler mine.

Citing Turkey Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, BBC News reported that nine people were believed to be stuck in the mine.

Yerlikaya was cited by Reuters as saying that 400 search and rescue personnel are engaged in efforts to locate any missing miners following the incident.

The Turkish Government has initiated an investigation to determine the cause and accountability for the slip at the Çöpler mine.

Turkey Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar was quoted by Reuters as saying in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "In order to closely coordinate the rescue work, I will interrupt my international programme with our president and move to the region as of tonight.”

As SSR Mining's second-largest gold-producing asset, the mine reported an output of 56,768oz of gold in Q3 2023.

The mine has an estimated operational life of more than 20 years.

In 2022, an explosion in a Türkiye coal mine, owned by state-run Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises, claimed at least 41 lives and wounded many others.