DHAKA: Police investigating the coal mine disaster in western Turkey have arrested 18 people, including mining company executives.

Turkish media say, reports the BBC.

The rescue operation at the mine, in the town of Soma, ended on Saturday after the bodies of the last two workers were recovered.

The final death toll is 301, making it Turkey’s worst mining disaster.

Protests against the government and mining company have broken out since Tuesday’s disaster.

Those arrested on Sunday included Ramazan Dogru, general manager of the mine, and its operations manager Akin Celik, Turkey’s Dogan news agency said.

Tuesday’s disaster occurred when an explosion sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine’s tunnels while 787 miners were underground.

Soma Holding insists it was not caused by negligence. A representative said an unexplained build-up of heat appeared to have caused the collapse.

On Saturday, hundreds of people marched through the western city of Izmir and there were protests in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara.

BDST: 1908 HRS, MAY 18, 2014