Discontent spread across Turkey after the worst mining disaster in the country's history. On May 13, a fire tore through the Soma coal mine, killing more than 300 people and leaving scores injured. Grief in Turkey quickly turned to anger. Protesters hit the streets — furious at Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his administrations' alleged role in the tragedy. The Turkish government has been criticized for its close ties to big business and for putting profit ahead of safety standards in a country with the highest rate of worker deaths in Europe. Just weeks before the tragedy, the government rejected a proposal to investigate safety standards in the coal industry.