The operator who photographed the cracks in the wall before the building in Maltepe collapsed: There was no column cutting

As a result of the collapse of the lower 3 floors of a 7-storey building in Maltepe, 2 people who were trapped under the rubble lost their lives, and 10 injured people, including 3 children, were rescued. Images emerged of Fatma Kaya, who runs the textile shop on the ground floor of the building, recording the cracks in the wall with her mobile phone camera. Kaya said, "There is never a column cutting situation there. I don't need space. I sell small combed cotton fabrics and pieces of fabric. There is even a before and after of the renovation I did in the shop. After April, the cracks started to grow a lot."

The lower 3 floors of the 7-storey building in Cevizli District Doğu Street collapsed in the early morning hours for an unknown reason. Upon notice, many firefighters, health, police and search and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. Those on the upper floors were rescued by the work of the teams. During the work carried out in the wreckage, the dead bodies of 2 people were found, while 10 people, including 3 children, were rescued with injuries. Search and rescue efforts are continuing for 2 people trapped under the rubble. While those with relatives in the wreckage continued to wait in the safe area, images emerged of Fatma Kaya, who runs the textile shop on the bottom floor of the building, recording the cracks in the wall with her mobile phone camera.

'THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION OF CUTTING A COLUMN'

Fatma Kaya said, "There is never a column cutting situation there. Before me, it was a baklava manufacturing place for years. I say it was about 3 tons, but maybe it was 2 tons, I don't know. It was a pretty big bakery. We just took that oven out and had it renovated with paint and whitewash. Other than that, there is no column cutting. Because I don't have a machine anyway. I don't need space. I sell small combed cotton fabrics and pieces of fabric. There is even a before and after of the renovation I made in the shop. Such a thing is possible." Yes, I shot a video to send to the management. They said, 'Okay, let's see if there are any cracks in our shop. After that, we made a fuss and said, 'God forbid, this building will collapse on us.' Because I knew them, that conversation ended there.

'AFTER APRIL, THE CRACKS STARTED TO GROW MUCH'

Fatma Kaya said, "After April, the cracks started to grow a lot. When I pulled them in April, for example, they were smaller. Lately, the crack has of course gotten bigger and cracks started to appear on the ground outside. Maybe it was even before April, I started paying attention in April. There were meetings with contractors. Because we were in the shop, we had to leave because it would be demolished. During this period, there was talk of looking for a shop, but the contractors were in talks. I don't know if the municipality was informed. The column cutting situation. "Please, everyone in this neighborhood knows that such a thing is out of the question. We stand there day and night. We would never take part in that crime. They called my wife to testify because of the false news. The columns are standing there intact, before and after," he said.