On May 13, 2014, an explosion and fire at the Soma coal mine in Manisa Province, Turkey, killed 301 miners, making it the country's deadliest industrial accident. Sparked by a transformer failure igniting coal dust, it highlighted lax safety in privatized operations. Massive protests followed in the region.

The Soma disaster spurred Turkish poetry and literature on worker rights and tragedy, adding to a tradition of socially engaged verse responding to industrial disasters. It influenced global awareness through translated works emphasizing solidarity and reform.