VIDEO: Four-Story Residential Building Collapses in Istanbul, People Trapped in Rubble

A four-story residential building has collapsed in western Istanbul, trapping people under the debris, reports Yeni Şafak.

According to the publication, the exact cause of the building's collapse is still unknown. Several individuals are reported to be trapped under the rubble, though local authorities have yet to confirm those details. TGRT Haber reports that one injured man has stated that his wife is beneath the debris.

Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and medical personnel, have arrived at the scene.

In February 2023, Istanbul began demolishing buildings deemed at risk of collapsing at any moment. According to city administration data, this concerns 318 buildings inhabited by 10,000 people. An additional 1,500 houses have been classified as high risk.

Over the course of three years, approximately 30,000 applications have been submitted, and following the earthquakes that occurred in early February, which resulted in over 40,000 fatalities, nearly 40,000 new applications have been reported by local authorities. In August of the same year, city administration representatives warned of the risk of 600,000 buildings collapsing in the city.