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Horrifying Mine Disaster in Turkey; Two Confirmed Cases of MERS in U.S.; Magic Speaks Out on Sterling

Aired May 14, 2014 - 09:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining me. We begin with a horrifying mine disaster that's unfolding now in western Turkey. It's the coal mining town of Soma, and it may touch nearly every single family there. Overnight, rescue workers managed to haul dozens of survivors from a smoke-filled shaft. But more than 200 -- 200 are confirmed dead, and hope is fading quickly for hundreds more who remain trapped.

CNN's Ivan Waston has scrambled to the town and has the latest on this heart-wrenching drama. Tell us more, Ivan.

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. We're overlooking the sprawling mine complex behind me, this gritty coal mine outside the town of Soma in Turkey, where this race against time is underway.

Sadly, tragically, the death toll seems to grow every couple of hours, with the Turkish prime minister who recently visited here, saying it has now been confirmed 232 coal miners killed as a result of what authorities say was an electrical fire that broke out deep below the surface of the mountain here, on Tuesday.

Now rescue workers that I've spoken with that were working throughout the night, I spoke with two Turkish rescue workers. They say they brought up the bodies of six men overnight. They said it takes more than 45 minutes to navigate the different mine shafts and galleries down there to try to reach the areas where the workers were when the fire broke out. They say that it is terribly hot as a result of the fires, and that there is a massive amount of smoke, that the rescue workers have to go in carrying oxygen tanks. If anybody is to have survived -- and there are believed to have been hundreds of coal miners who were down there performing a shift change when the fire broke out -- if they are to survive, they would have had to reach some of the emergency chambers and reach oxygen tanks for themselves, as well. And the rescue workers I talked to, they said they did not know if there had been communications with any of the hundreds of workers who were believed to still be trapped down below.

Now in the nearby town of Soma, there you see pretty awful scene, sad scenes of hundreds, thousands of residents lining the roads near the hospital there, behind police barriers, behind lines of police and riot police, waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones, men who may have earned perhaps $500 a month doing this terribly dangerous work. Every year, Turkish coal mine workers die in similar incidents. But the way this is going, there are fears this may become the deadliest mine disaster in recent Turkish history. Carol?

COSTELLO: Ivan Watson, reporting live for us this morning.

MERS. If you don't know what it is, listen up. MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, has hit home. It is potentially deadly because it has no known treatment. Right now there is one patient with MERS in this Orlando hospital. A hospital worker exposed to this patient has also been admitted, while 20 other hospital workers were ordered to go home until tests confirmed they did not contract the virus. Also, the TSA plans to put up advisories about MERS. At 20 airports across the country.

I'm going to take you to Orlando in three minutes. But first, Brian Todd has more on MERS for you.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A creeping, contagious and potentially deadly respiratory virus has reached the U.S. and created a legitimate health scare. Two Orlando area health care workers exposed to a patient with MERS have been treated for flu-like symptoms. One of those workers is in isolation.

DR. ANTONIO CRESPO, DR. P. PHILLIPS HOSPITAL, ORLANDO: It all happened before the proper isolation precautions were initiated. So these people were in contact with a patient without a mask.

TODD: Officials say about 20 health care workers at two hospitals in the Orlando area might have been exposed to the MERS patient.

What is MERS? It stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It started in the Saudi Peninsula, but has now spread around the globe. Experts say it may originate with camels, but you can get it simply by breathing in. Most of those getting it have been relatives of patients or health care workers.

DR. JOXEL GARCIA, U.S. PBULIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS: We can infect one person to another if they're in close proximity. We have droplets of the fluid that we have in our body being inhaled by the other person. Or in close contact with the other person.

TODD: It attacks the respiratory system. The main symptoms -- coughing, fever, trouble breathing. Why is it so scary? It's deadlier and spreads through the body faster than the very similar SARS virus of a decade ago. About a third of the 530-plus MERS patients have died, experts say, compared to about 10 percent of SARS victims.

GARCIA: There is no vaccine for it and no treatment for it.

TODD: Meaning patients survive only by getting the symptoms treated. There are two actual MERS patients now in the U.S., both of them health care workers. The most recent one in Orlando, recently flew from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to London. Then from London to Boston. Boston to Atlanta. Then Atlanta to Orlando.

(on camera): Are they going to have to track everyone on each one of those flights?

GARCIA: Not necessarily. As a matter of fact, what they will be doing is -- the people that were in close contact with that patient. So if you were sitting near that person, one or two seats, yes, you're going to be interviewed. But if you're sitting several rows and that patient did not walk close to you, there is no reason to even be concerned.

TODD (voice-over): The other MERS patient in the U.S. also recently flew from Saudi Arabia, traveling to London and then London to Chicago. Then took a bus from Chicago to Indiana.

(on camera): Dr. Joxel Garcia says that bus ride could be a problem. The patient had extended exposure to others, closer in. And it's not clear how good the ventilation system on that bus was. All of those bus passengers, he says, will have to be tracked.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

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COSTELLO: All right. I want to take you back to that Orlando hospital, where one patient is suffering from MERS and another patient has flu-like symptoms. Alina Machado is there. Do we know how these patients are doing, Alina?

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT : Well, Carol, we know that the 44- year-old who is the second confirmed MERS case in the U.S. is still here. He's recovering. Doctors say he is in good condition and is improving. All we know about this health care worker is that this person was admitted here after showing possible symptoms.

Now, that person is one of 20 health care workers from two separate hospitals here in Orlando who are being evaluated for possible exposure to the MERS virus. They have all been tested. They have also been told to stay home for 14 days. Take a listen to what an infectious disease specialist told us about the situation.

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CRESPO: That's what the health department in conjunction with the CDC has recommended. Time for the virus to show symptoms in a period of incubation, has been determined to be between 2 and 14 days. So that is considered to be a safe period.

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MACHADO: Doctors here are waiting for initial test results to come back, and we're told, Carol, those results could be available as early as today.

COSTELLO: We'll be watching. Alina Machado reporting live from Orlando this morning. Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Magic Johnson responds to Donald Sterling, opening up about the bizarre rant that shocked the NBA and beyond.

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EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON, FORMER NBA PLAYER: I was in disbelief that he would say these things, and then, you know, to throw me into the situation. I don't know the young lady, barely know Donald. So now I'm caught in the middle of this love affair or whatever they have. And so it was sort of disappointing.

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COSTELLO: More of the basketball legend's exclusive interview with Anderson Cooper, ahead.

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COSTELLO: He's been the target of several shocking remarks by Donald Sterling, and now Magic Johnson is speaking out. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Johnson talks about how he met the embattled Clippers owner, that picture with V. Stiviano that sparked Sterling's racist rant, and the surprising way Sterling wanted Magic's help in soothing over the controversy.

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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: When you first heard the audiotape that was released a couple of weeks ago, what did you think?

JOHNSON: Well, I was just -- I was blown away.

I was -- I couldn't believe that he had said those things, first of all, made those statements, those racist statements, and then, you know, threw me in, "Don't bring him to my games."

And so you personally attack me. And so -- and I had known Donald, not very well. I knew him. I have met with him three or four times, been to his office.

COOPER: So, how -- I mean, so you -- so were you guys friends?

JOHNSON: I would say we were friends.

My first trip, when I got here in L.A. over 35 -- about 35 years ago, Dr. Buss took me to his beach house for his annual beach house party in the summertime. So that was one of the first things that I did.

So, to reflect back to that, to these statements he made about myself and minorities, it was just disappointing. It was -- I was in disbelief that he would say these things, and then, you know, to throw me into the situation.

I don't know the young lady, barely know Donald. So now I'm caught in the middle of this love affair or whatever they have. And so it was sort of disappointing. But I had to respond in terms of, OK, you don't want me to come to your games, I won't come to your games. You don't have to worry about that.

But, also, I was upset because he threw minorities in, African- Americans, Latinos, into this situation. And so I had to speak up.

COOPER: When -- first of all, you said you were photographed with V. Stiviano. You're probably photographed with...

JOHNSON: Millions of people.

COOPER: Millions of people. Do you know her? He claimed in this interview that I did with him the other day, he said you knew her, you knew her well.

JOHNSON: These are the facts, Anderson. I never met this young lady. I took a picture with her, probably, it looked like at a Dodger game. That is it. That's all I know of her. And then he says I'm trying to set him up. How am I trying to set you up?

These are the facts. I was sitting in my office. I get a call from Donald Sterling.

COOPER: He called you?

JOHNSON: He called me. I took the call.

COOPER: Apparently, he has your phone number.

JOHNSON: Yes. Yes. His assistant called my assistant. And she put him through.

And this is what happened. He asked me to go on the Barbara Walters show with him.

COOPER: This was, what, a week, week-and-a-half ago?

JOHNSON: This was a week ago.

COOPER: Because he met with Barbara on a Friday about week-and-a-half ago.

JOHNSON: Exactly. It was before that.

I told him I wouldn't do it. I said, the number one thing you need to do, which you haven't done, is apologize to everybody and myself. "I will get to that. I will get to that."

COOPER: So, he wanted you to go on with Barbara Walters sitting next to him?

JOHNSON: Sitting next to him.

COOPER: To kind of give him cover or...

JOHNSON: Exactly. So, I said no. Then I told him. I said, Donald, you should consult with your attorneys. I said, this thing is a big thing. And you should deal with your attorneys and let them advise you on what to do. But I said, you need to go public and apologize to everybody.

COOPER: How did he respond to that?

JOHNSON: "Well, I will apologize later. But I want you to go on this show."

He was adamant about me going on the show with him. And I told him, no, I wouldn't do it. And that's what happened.

COOPER: That's it?

JOHNSON: And then I called Adam Silver, our great commissioner, and told him what had happened.

COOPER: You told Adam Silver that Donald Sterling had called you?

JOHNSON: Had just called. And so I wanted him to know that it happened, so he wouldn't be blindsided either. And so I -- and then I called all my people to let them know Donald Sterling had just called me.

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COSTELLO: OK. Let's talk about this.

Otis Birdsong, chairman of the NBA Retired Players Association, former NBA all star, joins me, as well as Marc Lamont Hill, CNN political commentator and host of "Huff Post Live."

Welcome to both of you.

MARC LAMONT HILL, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

So, Otis, I was struck by how gracious Magic Johnson was in this interview. He also said he feels sad and sorry for Sterling, that he'll pray for him. I don't know if I would have had that in me.

HILL: I would not have.

COSTELLO: Otis, go on.

OTIS BIRDSONG, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL BASKETBALL RETIRED PLAYERS ASSN: Magic is a gracious person. I consider him a great friend. And I really enjoy watching this interview. And no, I would not -- I don't have any sadness or remorse for Mr. Sterling. I just wish he would just go away.

COSTELLO: I think at this point, Marc Lamont Hill, everybody wishes Donald Sterling would just go away. But I don't think he will. HILL: No, he can't. This is part of the lack of humility, the lack of self awareness that you see in many people like Donald Sterling. He still doesn't accept he's a racist. Even as we saw in this amazing Donald -- this amazing Magic Johnson interview, in the midst of being told he should apologize, he says, I'll get to that. Right now I need you on Barbara Walters. It's always prioritizing his needs over the needs of others, even when he's hurt people.

Donald Sterling might even be losing it a little upstairs. I mean, I'm really worried about his mental health. At the same time, I want him out of the league because he's a racist.

COSTELLO: Well, Otis, I think maybe Magic Johnson didn't want to go there but that's what he meant. He feels sad for him because this is the destruction of -- I don't want to put words -- go ahead.

BIRDSONG: He has a history -- he has a history of this. I mean, I don't feel sad for him. I mean, I'm not surprised. We've known about this for years. And I just wish, you know, the board of governors would go ahead and make the vote and get him out of here so we can move on and focus on this wonderful basketball that's being displayed during the playoffs.

It's just sad that it's taken away from the great players that are just performing so wonderfully this playoff season.

COSTELLO: I know. The game last night, Marc. I mean -- I know the Clippers lost by one point, but it was a thrilling game to watch.

BIRDSONG: Yes. I mean, it's interesting, because there's two things going on, right? There's this amazing OKC-Clippers game going on last night and half of us wondering if the Clippers win, what Mrs. Sterling do? Run out on the floor? What's the facial expression of the fans and players and owners at this time?

I mean, so much stuff going on, it is a distraction from the playoffs. And as he said, one of the great playoffs we have seen in the last decade, maybe longer. But this is a super distraction but nothing can be done about it. This is going to be such a long, protracted legal battle that as much as we would like to see a quick resolution to this, it won't be quick and it won't be pretty.

COSTELLO: No. It won't.

And, Otis, you know, my dream is that Magic Johnson buys the Clippers, because I think that would be such wonderful cosmic justice, right? He did address that with Anderson Cooper. He says he's interested in buying a basketball team. Maybe not the Clippers, maybe the Clippers. He kind of left it open.

But wouldn't that be a beautiful thing?

BIRDSONG: It would be a beautiful thing. But I think Magic might put a group of investors to buy the Clippers, but Magic's heart is with the Lakers. I'm sure he has a Laker t-shirt under his suit every day. I don't think Magic is going to buy the Clippers. COSTELLO: I don't know. I'm a betting woman Otis.

BIRDSONG: Nah, not going to happen.

COSTELLO: Not going to happen. Otis Birdsong, Marc Lamont Hill, I want you both to stick around because I'm going to ask you about the lessons learned from all of this, that after a break.

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COSTELLO: I'm joined again by Otis Birdsong, chairman of the NBA Retired Players Association and former NBA all-star. And Marc Lamont Hill, CNN political commentator and host of "Huff Post Live."

All right. Gentlemen, there have been so many twists to this Sterling story, you know, his racist rant, his fixation on Magic Johnson, the broader issues of race in society.

So, I wanted to ask you both if we've learned anything from this fiasco.

So, Otis, I'll start with you. Have we learned anything?

BIRDSONG: Well, I have been shown again that society will not accept this type of behavior. The media won't, society won't. And it's a great thing.

I mean, it gives us an opportunity to discuss race issues in America, and it's a great thing. But society is just not going to tolerate the behavior that we saw displayed from Donald Sterling.

COSTELLO: What do you think, Marc?

HILL: I think that there are so many lessons that we have left on the table and refused to acknowledge here. There was so much possibility in this moment, just like there is in many moments. But we neglected to engage them. Instead, we choose the low-hanging fruit.

It's really easy to be against Donald Sterling. I haven't met a person yet who says Donald Sterling said the right thing on that tape. It's like the equivalent of kissing a baby. Everyone can agree to this.

The problem is, there are more complicated and interesting and nuance, impactful forms of racism we're still not willing to wrestle with in society. Donald Sterling has been racist for a long time and the most racist thing he did wasn't saying something about Magic Johnson on a tape, it was denying people against housing, discriminating against Elgin Baylor on a job allegedly. I mean, all of these things are far more impactful.

But we don't deal with that kind of racism. We want the sexy, smoking gun, foaming at the mouth racism where someone is on tape saying something bad about something else, when the far more normalized everyday type of racism that black and brown people experience every day gets neglected. We squandered an opportunity to deal with the real stuff.

COSTELLO: Well, can we concentrate on perhaps the positive, because I'm feeling a little glass half full this morning. So --

HILL: Fair enough.

COSTELLO: It was good to see the majority of Americans rallying against Donald Sterling, and to, you know, Magic Johnson's side, if you will. I mean, wasn't that a good thing?

BIRDSONG: It is a great thing. And I was happy to see that, and I knew this, but commissioner Silver is going to be a phenomenal commissioner. I was happy to see that the NBA, the former and current players are unified. We are a family and behind and with each other.

So, you know, there are a lot of positives. And I'm with you, Carol, I like to see us focus on the positive and move forward and not always look back. It's so easy to look back and say what if and this, that and the other. But let's just move forward from this situation.

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COSTELLO: Go ahead -- go ahead, Marc.

HILL: Real quick. I was going to say, moving forward, I hope that means if we see an owner doing something racist, we don't wait for the videotape or audiotape. We deal with it in the moment.

And also, I want to give a salute to the players. The players worked really hard and were willing to sit out a game. That shows the players have not lost their political power. I'm proud of them.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. And one last thing, there is no privacy anywhere you are, even in your own home. I think we have all learned that, right, Marc?

HILL: Yes. We're in agreement.

COSTELLO: We're in agreement. I don't know what the answer to that is, but that is a true story.

Otis Birdsong, Marc Lamont Hill --

BIRDSONG: What's done in the dark will eventually come to the light.

HILL: That's right.

COSTELLO: Otis and Marc, thank you so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM: where is Casey Kasem? His family desperately wants to know.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want to get him home and we want to get him the right care and surround him with love. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: This morning, new details in how the Kasem family is searching for the radio legend. Hear the pleas for help from Casey's daughter.

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