Nine die in Çöpler gold mine heap collapse; mine gets temporary operating certificate
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
A cyanide ore heap at the Çöpler gold mine in İliç, Türkiye, collapsed in February 2024 and nine workers died. An expert panel reported environmental exceedances, and the mine's 80% stake was sold in 2026. At stake for nature are soil, groundwater and surface water near the mine.
- Cengiz Holding — Acquired SSR Mining's 80% stake in the mine for about $1.5 billion Mining.com
- SSR Mining — Sold its 80% stake in the mine Mining.com
- Nine workers and their families — Nine workers died in the collapse bianet
What happened
Medyascope reported in May 2024 that an expert panel found cyanide material had affected the environment, with some soil, groundwater, surface water and air values exceeded.
Bianet reported that nine workers died when the ore heap collapsed in February 2024.
Mining.com reported in March 2026 that SSR Mining sold its 80% stake in the mine to Cengiz Holding for about $1.5 billion.
NTV reported that the criminal case was adjourned to 11 November 2026.
In court and with insurers
Lawsuits and rulings
- OngoingÇöpler (İliç) collapse criminal caseErzincan 1st Heavy Penal Court · Criminal · → 43 defendants
Charged with negligent causing of multiple deaths and negligent environmental pollution. After victims' lawyers raised an expert's commercial ties to the company in April 2026, the court requested a new report and adjourned the hearing to 11 November 2026. NTV
Insurers
What we don't know
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- Disputed Sources differ on the sale date: March 2026 in one report and June 2026 in another. The sale price is given as about $1.49 billion in one source.
- None on record Reported without a linked source: the 2022 slide and cyanide leak at the same heap, and the signature of then environment minister Murat Kurum on the 2021 environmental decision.
- None on record The sources reviewed do not state the volume of cyanide released or the number of people affected beyond the expert panel's findings.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Press and investigations
- Expert panel: İliç permit granted despite limit exceedancesMedyascope · 2024-05-24
- Ilhan Cihaner: sadly it was clear this would happenbianet · 2024
- SSR Mining sells Çöpler mine stake for $1.5BMining.com · 2026-03
- Mine that became a grave for nine workers gets new permit with Cengiz HoldingEvrensel · 2026-08-03
Connected cases
- Çöpler (İliç) heap leach collapse Turkey · 2021–2026
- Anagold (Company) — here: Operator of the Çöpler mine; there: Operator of the Çöpler mine
- SSR Mining (Company) — here: Former 80% owner; sold its stake in 2026; there: 80% owner of Anagold until the 2026 sale
- Cengiz Holding (Company) — here: Bought the 80% stake in 2026; there: Buyer of the 80% stake (2026)
- Turkish holdings' coal expansion alongside renewables (Cenal, Akbelen, İçdaş) Türkiye · 2021–2026
- Cengiz Holding (Company) — here: Bought the 80% stake in 2026; there: Owner of the Cenal imported-coal plant