A fire has broken out at the Turkish mine where 299 people were killed this week in the country’s worst ever industrial disaster.

Turkey’s Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said rescue operations at the mine in Soma would be halted until the new blaze was brought under control.

“We’ve concluded that there could be a maximum of three workers in the mine. Of course the rescue operation will continue. But another fire has broken out in a different part of the mine, Yildiz told a news conference.

An explosion on May 13 sent carbon monoxide gas into the mine’s tunnels while 787 miners were underground.

It is unclear what caused the blast.

Protests have been held in Soma following the disaster.

Demonstrators expressed anger at the mine owners, accusing them of ignoring safety for profit, and also at the government for a perceived lack of insensitivity in its reaction to the tragedy.