Turkey stops rescue work on Saturday as death toll reaches 301 in the coal mine disaster in Soma in western Turkey, Turksih Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said.

Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told the press that rescue teams managed to reach the dead bodies of last two workers.

He added that they are planning to end the rescue works and launch investigation into the accident which caused the tragedy in the mine.

Earlier in the morning, he said that a fresh fire began inside the mine which hampered efforts to locate the bodies of three more miners who could still be trapped.

Yildiz said that 485 miners have either escaped or been rescued after the mine blast and fire on May 13.

However, many locals accuse the government of understating the real death toll, saying there are many more bodies that still remain buried in the mine.

The minister said "The mine will be thoroughly searched again and the bodies will be compared with the applications of the families after the identification process is finished."

Tuesday's mine accident in Soma is the deadliest in Turkey's history. The minister said that any negligence on the part of officials or the company managing the mine will be punished.

Turkey has announced a three-day mourning period for the victims.

Turkey currently has 740 coal mines and more than 48,000 miners. Mine accidents in the country have killed over 3,000 people and injured more than 100,000 since 1941.