5-Storey Building Evacuated in Küçükçekmece Due to Balcony Collapse

In a 5-storey building located in the Küçükçekmece district of İstanbul, moments of great fear and panic were experienced due to a partial collapse on the balconies. Realizing the danger as concrete pieces fell down, the residents exited the building on their own accord for their safety. Firefighter and public order teams dispatched to the scene took extensive security measures around the building to ensure safety in the area.

In the initial inspections, it was decided to evacuate the building to determine whether there was a situation threatening the structural integrity of the building. Teams visited each apartment one by one, directing citizens to safe zones and sealing the entrance doors of the building. Firefighter teams started work to clean other balcony parts at risk of collapse and to remove materials likely to fall.

According to information obtained from neighborhood residents, it is estimated that factors such as the aging of the building and the failure to perform periodic maintenance on time may have caused this incident. A loud noise occurred in the building at the time of the collapse, and falling concrete debris caused damage to the surrounding park and pedestrian paths. Luckily, no one passing under the falling pieces or in the vicinity was injured, and the possibility of loss of life was eliminated.

Authorities have initiated a technical investigation into the matter, and it was stated that a report would be prepared by expert engineers regarding whether the building carries a demolition risk. The Environment and Urbanization and Building Permit Departments teams have conducted necessary investigations into the construction quality and permit status of the building and began preparations to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible.

Citizens forced to leave their homes were moved away from the area to stay with relatives or to benefit from temporary accommodation opportunities provided by the municipality. The street where the incident occurred was closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for security reasons, and precautions will continue in the area until the teams' work is completed. This incident served as a new warning regarding the structural inspections of old buildings across İstanbul.