Istanbul: Collapse of a residential building results in one fatality
In the bustling city of Istanbul, a high-rise building unexpectedly crumbles to the ground, trapping nine individuals within the rubble. Tragically, only eight of them were able to be saved by rescue personnel before it was too late for the last person. Speculation about the cause of this shocking event: construction flaws.
During the collapse of an edifice in Istanbul, at least one human's life was lost. Reportedly, nine individuals became entangled in the rubble following the incident in the district of Küçükçekmece, in the European area of the massive Turkish city. Members of the security force managed to save eight people from the wreckage and transported them to hospitals to receive medical attention. Footage from various television outlets showed emergency workers using their bare hands to remove debris from the five-story building to liberate people stuck inside.
At first, Istanbul's governor D. Gül, who was present at the scene of the disaster, announced that seven people had been extracted from the mess, one of whom was in critical condition, and two others were still stuck. His office later issued a statement that another injured person had been found and removed. They also shared news of a body being discovered.
The reason for the collapse remains a mystery. There was no evidence present of an explosion or seismic activity. As per comments made by Environment and Urban Planning Minister M. Özhaseki on X platform, the collapsing structure possessed severe structural problems. It was erected in 1988 in violation of city regulations, using sand from the sea in the concrete mixture, and then illegally extended by one and a half floors, destabilizing the building.
Istanbul lies in a region with a significant risk of earthquakes, and according to experts, over 200,000 buildings in this teeming city were constructed in disregard of building regulations.
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Despite the international scrutiny, Istanbul continues to grapple with construction flaws, as evidenced by the recent misfortune that resulted in the collapse of a building, causing loss of life and raising concerns about the city's safety standards on a global scale.
The international community should take note of this incident in Istanbul, as it highlights the need for stricter building regulations and stronger enforcement in high-risk areas, such as cities prone to seismic activity, to prevent future tragedies and protect lives worldwide.
