Early Thursday morning, a seven‑story building in the Maltepe district of Istanbul on the Asian side suffered a partial collapse, trapping at least seven occupants, including a six‑year‑old child, according to officials.
Rescue operations underway
Governor Davut Gül reported that rescue teams have already evacuated residents from the upper floors and have pulled five people from the rubble. Efforts continue to reach the remaining seven individuals still trapped inside.
Gül said rescuers have made contact with the child but are unable to reach the youngster from their current position. A different approach is now being attempted to extract the child safely.
Risk of further collapse
The governor warned that the structure remains unstable and could suffer additional collapse, complicating rescue efforts. As a precaution, nearby buildings have been evacuated to protect residents and passersby.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the collapse. An investigation is under way to determine whether structural deficiencies, construction flaws, or other factors contributed to the failure.
Urban transformation context
Istanbul, along with many other Turkish cities, is in the midst of an extensive urban transformation program aimed at replacing older, earthquake‑prone buildings with newer, safer housing. The program seeks to reduce the risk of future disasters in a country that has experienced devastating earthquakes in recent years.
While the transformation effort is intended to improve safety, the incident underscores the challenges of retrofitting densely populated neighborhoods where many structures were built before modern building codes were enforced.
Community response
Local residents gathered outside the site to watch the rescue operation and to offer support to the families affected. Social media posts from the area show a mixture of concern and prayers for the victims, reflecting the close‑knit nature of the community.
Emergency services have deployed specialized equipment, including search dogs and listening devices, to locate survivors within the debris. The operation is expected to continue through the day, with officials emphasizing the need for patience and cooperation from the public.
What comes next?
Governor Gül pledged that the government will provide assistance to the families of those injured or displaced by the collapse. He also reiterated the importance of accelerating the urban transformation program to prevent similar tragedies.
Further updates will be provided as the rescue effort progresses and as investigators release findings on the cause of the collapse.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
