The death toll from the collapse of three floors of a seven-story apartment building in the Maltepe district, on the Asian side of Istanbul, has risen to five, after three more bodies were found in the rubble.
According to the Istanbul Governor’s Office, search and rescue operations have been completed, while debris removal continues.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The Governor’s Office announced that four people died at the scene and one more succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The victims are 5-year-old Gülçe Dora Turhan, 22-year-old Ahmet Muhammed Inan, 40-year-old Mesut Bilece, 66-year-old Hüseyin Özkurt, and 20-year-old Zeynep İnan.
The image that emerged from the rubble of the building in Maltepe, which became the grave of five people, was shocking.
In its statement, the Prefecture said:
“Search and rescue operations, which were underway in the Cevizli district of Maltepe, were concluded after the body of the last civilian was recovered at 6:15 a.m.”
As a precaution, three neighboring buildings were evacuated—a total of 55 residents—while 44 people were taken to hotels.
Two arrests in connection with the collapse
The causes of the collapse remain under investigation. Samples of concrete and rebar were taken from the rubble, and the building’s architect and the site manager were arrested.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi confirmed that the investigations have been completed and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
Source: cnn.gr
