Seven-Storey Building Partially Collapses in Istanbul’s Maltepe District; Rescue Effort Under Way
A seven-storey residential building partially collapsed in Cevizli neighbourhood, Maltepe, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation. The first three floors gave way for reasons that have not yet been established. The ground floor was used as a workplace, while the upper levels contained apartments.
Emergency services, including AFAD teams, were sent to Doğu Sokak and began searching the debris. Residents in parts of the building that remained standing were evacuated, while rescuers focused on people believed to be trapped in four apartments in the collapsed section.
Information about the number of people rescued and still missing changed as the operation progressed. Istanbul Governor’s Office initially reported that eight people, including three children, had been brought out alive and that six others were being sought. A later statement said one person had died and that three people remained unaccounted for. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, meanwhile, said five people had been rescued from the rubble, ten residents from the upper floors had been evacuated safely, and contact had been established with four people believed to be trapped. He added that as many as seven people might still be beneath the debris.
Authorities said the building’s registration records list it as having been constructed in 1987, with a ground floor and six upper floors. The ground floor was recorded as commercial space, and the building contained 12 apartments. Records indicated that 33 people lived there. Those in apartments unaffected by the collapse were evacuated after the incident.
Early reports identified a textile workshop on the ground floor, but later information said the workshop was empty at the time. The cause of the collapse has not been confirmed. Officials have not announced whether structural damage, construction work or another factor contributed, and no definitive explanation should be assumed before inspections are complete.
The moment the lower floors gave way was captured by a security camera at a nearby apartment block. The footage showed the base of the seven-storey building collapsing suddenly, bringing the upper structure down onto the debris.
The Interior Ministry assigned two inspectors to examine the incident. The Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office also opened an investigation, appointing a deputy chief prosecutor and two prosecutors. Their work is intended to establish the circumstances of the collapse and assess whether any legal responsibility was involved.
The Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Ministry said its provincial teams had joined the response under the coordination of the governor’s office. Minister Murat Kurum said all relevant public agencies were at the scene and that rescuers were continuing their search while considering every possibility. Officials stressed that reaching anyone who might still be trapped remained the immediate priority.
Searches after a partial building collapse require careful coordination. Rescue teams need to assess the stability of the remaining structure before moving heavy debris, since shifting material could create further danger for both survivors and responders. Specialist crews may use listening equipment, cameras and other tools to check voids beneath the rubble.
The number of people listed as missing can also change during an operation. Authorities compare residents’ accounts, official records and information from relatives while checking which apartments were occupied. For that reason, figures released at different stages may not match; the latest confirmed updates from officials provide the clearest picture available at the time.
Residents of nearby buildings may be asked to leave temporarily if inspections identify a risk. People in the area should follow instructions from emergency personnel, keep access routes clear and avoid approaching the damaged structure. These precautions help rescue teams move equipment and allow engineers to examine the site safely.
A final account of casualties and missing residents depends on completing the search and verifying identities. Investigators will also need to examine the building’s design and construction records, its condition before the collapse, and any relevant maintenance or renovation history. Until that work is finished, the reason the lower floors failed remains unknown.