Daijiworld Media Network - Istanbul
Istanbul, Oct 8: Two people were killed after the lower three floors of a seven-storey building partially collapsed in Istanbul's Maltepe district before dawn on Thursday, while rescue teams continued efforts to reach at least two people believed to be trapped under the rubble.
The collapse occurred at around 5.40 am in Dogu Street in the Cevizli neighbourhood of Maltepe, on the Asian side of Istanbul. The first three floors of the building, including a ground-floor commercial unit, caved in for reasons that have not yet been established. An investigation into the cause of the collapse is underway.
Residents on the upper floors were evacuated safely as emergency teams began search and rescue operations. Several people were pulled alive from the debris, while rescuers recovered two bodies. Officials said rescue workers were continuing to search for people who remained trapped inside.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said rescuers had earlier established contact with a six-year-old child trapped beneath the rubble. The rescue operation was complicated by concerns that the remaining structure could collapse further, forcing teams to proceed cautiously and use alternative approaches to reach those trapped.
According to Turkish authorities, the building was constructed in 1987 and had a ground floor and six upper floors. It contained 12 apartments, while official records showed 33 people living in the building. Four apartments on the lower floors were affected by the collapse.
Firefighters, AFAD disaster-response teams, police, medical personnel and UMKE emergency health teams were deployed to the site. Anadolu Agency reported that firefighters were operating with 56 vehicles and 175 personnel, along with search-and-rescue dogs, while AFAD deployed additional vehicles, personnel and K-9 teams. Roads around the building were closed and a security perimeter was established to facilitate rescue operations.
Nearby buildings were also evacuated as a precaution because of the risk of further structural failure. Authorities said the remaining sections of the building were being approached under controlled conditions while heavy machinery was brought in to support the operation.
The incident comes as Istanbul and other parts of Türkiye continue an urban transformation programme aimed at replacing ageing and earthquake-vulnerable buildings with safer structures, amid longstanding concerns over the city's exposure to earthquakes.