Shocking Claims from Belen Tunnel: Workers Say 'We Can't Breathe'

While worker conditions and mine safety frequently dominate Turkey's agenda, attention has now turned to the strategic transportation project under construction in Hatay, the Belen Geçidi Tunnel. Workers involved in this massive project, a crucial part of the İskenderun-Antakya connection road, have brought the situation to light, claiming that working conditions underground have reached alarming levels in terms of human health and occupational safety.

The primary grievance of the workers is the increasingly harsh livability conditions inside the tunnel, specifically the inadequacies in the ventilation system. Employees state that tunnel temperatures rise to unbearable levels during the summer months, and existing cooling and ventilation systems fail to respond to this pressure and heat. It is suggested according to sources that the ventilation pipes are punctured and necessary air circulation cannot be provided, with workers expressing that they "struggle to breathe underground" and face health risks.

In addition to the physical environmental conditions, the lack of occupational safety measures is also discussed as a serious risk factor. It is stated that operators of the massive machinery operating inside the tunnel have difficulty seeing the personnel working in the same environment, whereas the personnel can notice the approaching heavy machinery. This difference in perspective is seen as a harbinger of a potential work accident, and warnings are issued that if necessary precautions are not taken, irreparable consequences may occur.

The allegations are not limited to technical and physical conditions; there are also interesting claims economically and operationally. Personnel working at the site draw attention to a serious decrease in the number of actively working workers on-site compared to previous periods and that work stops from time to time. These observations that only a few people work inside the tunnel at the same time bring to mind uncertainties in employment and management processes rather than the speed of the project, while another subject workers find insufficient is that their wages remain low compared to the difficulty and risk of the job.

While no official statement has been received regarding the news so far, all these complaints have not been confirmed by the project contractor company or relevant public institutions. The claims of workers regarding heavy working conditions, safety risks, and wage grievances are currently met with silence from the authorities. It is stated that the issue will be followed up, while public pressure continues to increase for official channels to make a statement and ensure transparency.