Turkish soldiers die of methane gas poisoning in Iraq

Turkey said on Monday that a dozen soldiers had died of methane gas poisoning after being exposed to the substance while searching a cave in northern Iraq for a soldier shot dead by Kurdish fighters three years ago.

The Defence Ministry gave an initial death toll of eight, but later raised it.

"Four others of our heroic comrades in arms, affected by methane gas, have died ... bringing the total number of victims to 12," the ministry said on X.

Methane is a colourless, odourless, flammable gas that can cause asphyxiation in sufficient concentration.

What else did Turkey say?

"During a search operation in a cave... previously known to have been used as a hospital... 19 of our personnel were exposed to methane gas," the ministry said on Sunday.

It said other soldiers also exposed to the gas in the cave had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The ministry said the incident took place in the "Claw-Lock Operation region" — a reference to an operation launched against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq in April 2022 to clear militants holed up in caves along the border.

It said the soldier whose body was being looked for had been killed by "terrorist gunfire."

Recovery teams have been searching the area for the past three years.

Long-running conflict with PKK

Turkey and the PKK have waged a 40-year conflict that has often spilled over into Iraq and Syria, with an estimated 40,000 people losing their lives.

The cave where the incident occurred is located at an altitude of 852 meters (2,795 feet) and had previously been used by the PKK as a field hospital.

Recovery teams have been searching the area for the past three years.

Turkey is currently in talks with the PKK on ending the conflict after the group agreed to halt its armed struggle.