Investigation launched after collapse of Küçükçekmece building in Istanbul

The lifeless body of a victim was recovered from the rubble of a collapsed three-story building in the Kartaltepe district of Küçükçekmece. Search and rescue teams discovered the body amid the rubble of the 1988-built apartment building at the intersection of Belediye Street and Geçit Street. The identity of the deceased has not yet been determined.

The collapse occurred at around 8:40 a.m. on Sunday, when the building, which housed a shop on the ground floor, suddenly collapsed for reasons that are still unclear. Rescue teams responded immediately and successfully rescued eight people from the rubble, two of whom sustained serious injuries. According to initial reports, no one else is trapped under the rubble.

Following notification, fire brigade, ambulance, police and teams from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) were dispatched to the scene. Police secured the area and cordoned off the street where the building was located.

In response to the incident, the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the launch of an investigation. A team consisting of a deputy chief public prosecutor and two prosecutors was assigned to lead the investigation.

After the search and rescue operations are completed, a three-person team of experts will conduct a thorough inspection to determine the cause of the collapse and identify possible negligence.

The prosecutor’s office issued a written statement detailing the steps taken: “As part of the investigation, a deputy prosecutor general and two prosecutors have been appointed and dispatched to the crime scene. After the search and rescue operations are completed, a three-person expert team appointed by our prosecutor’s office will begin investigations to determine liability. The investigation will be carried out with the utmost care.”

Authorities on the scene continue to work diligently to investigate all aspects of the incident.

Küçükçekmece is a municipality and district in the Istanbul Province of Turkey. It covers an area of ​​44 square kilometers and had a population of 326,452 in 2022. It is located 23 kilometers west of Istanbul city center and borders Küçükçekmece Lake. Both the lake and the district are located on the European shore of the Sea of ​​Marmara.