WALL – A building on Belediye Street in the Kartaltepe area of Istanbul’s Küçükçekmece district collapsed for unknown reasons at approximately 8:45 a.m. One person was reported killed and eight injured by the building’s debris. It is believed that no one is trapped under the rubble, but interviews are continuing.
A written statement from the Istanbul Governorate said: “At approximately 8:40 a.m. on Sunday, February 6, 2024, a three-storey building at the intersection of Belediye Street and Gecit Street in Kartaltepe district of Küçükçekmece district collapsed. Numerous AFAD, search and rescue teams and medical teams were dispatched to the scene.”
A new statement released by the Istanbul governor said: “One person was killed and seven were injured in the collapsed building. “The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital and efforts are ongoing to rescue the last person remaining in the rubble.” He included his own statement.
Meanwhile, Gul said the building was built in 1988.
Stating that more information would be provided in the coming hours, Gul said: “The chief prosecutor is at the scene and judicial and administrative proceedings will continue. I hope everyone gets better soon. No explosion has been reported or detected.”
The AFAD statement included the following information: “412 personnel, 77 vehicles and 15 ambulances from AFAD, the Fire Brigade, 112 emergency teams, UMKE and police teams were dispatched to the scene. Eight nationals were rescued from underneath the rubble and one lifeless body was found. May God have mercy on our nationals who lost their lives. We pray for their speedy repose. We are following the progress of our teams with the aim of recovering our injured nationals.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu released a statement on the collapse of the building in Küçükçekmece saying, “A detailed investigation into the cause of the collapse will be conducted after rescue operations. Please recover quickly.” Imamoglu said in a statement on his social media accounts:
“Our fire brigade continues to intervene in the building collapse that occurred in the Küçükçekmece Kartaltepe district. So far, four civilians have survived and been rescued. The cause of the collapse will be investigated in detail after the rescue,” he said. “I hope your activities improve quickly.”
Kücükçekmece Mayor Kemal Çebi told CNNTürk that the last floor of the collapsed building was constructed illegally and that no broken pillars were detected in the building.
Chebbi also explained that a number of unsafe buildings had been identified across the district and measures had been taken, but the building had not been determined to be rotten.
“Seven people were found injured as of 9:35am in a building collapse in Küçükçekmece, Istanbul this morning. Five of the injured have been taken to hospital,” Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a statement on his social media account. He said two did not require medical treatment upon arrival at the hospital, and that 15 ambulances and five UMKE personnel had arrived at the scene. “Teams have been assigned and we offer our condolences to those affected by the incident,” he said.
Chief Prosecutor Küçükçekmece assigned one deputy prosecutor and two prosecutors to the collapsed building.
In a statement, Prosecutor General Küçükçekmece said, “Regarding the collapse of a four-story building on Belediye Street, Küçükçekmece District, Kartaltepe District on February 6, our Chief Prosecutor immediately launched an investigation. Within the scope of the investigation, at approximately 8:40 a.m. 2024, one Chief Prosecutor and two prosecutors were assigned to the scene of the incident. After the completion of search and rescue operations, a three-member team of experts appointed by our Chief Prosecutor’s Office will begin an investigation to find negligence. The investigation will continue meticulously.”
Meanwhile, the DHA released a photo of the building before it collapsed.
(News Center)
