Israel’s Magen David Adom, the equivalent of the Red Cross, has offered the Turkish Red Crescent assistance after an explosion and subsequent fire in a coal mine in the town of Soma killed more than 200 people, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Hundreds are still believed to be trapped in the mine in Soma, around 120 kilometres (75 miles) north-east of the Aegean coastal city of Izmir. Turkey has not formally requested Israel’s assistance with rescue and medical efforts, and has as yet accepted MDA’s offer to help.

An MDA spokesman said that Israel rescue and response personnel could provide valuable manpower and medical equipment. The Israeli embassy in Ankara also called off a planned Independence Day reception scheduled for Wednesday night in solidarity with Turkish people mourning the Soma coal mine disaster. “Due to the grave accident in the coal mine in Soma, Manisa, the reception on the occasion of the 66th Independence Day of the State of Israel planned to be held tonight (14 May 2014) has been cancelled,” the embassy said in a statement.

“The State and people of Israel share the grief of the Turkish people, pay condolences to the families of the deceased, wish speedy recovery for the wounded and hope for positive news from the ones still in the mine,” it added.

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