The incident took place around 05.40 in the 7-storey building on Doğu Sokak, Maltepe Cevizli District. According to the information obtained, there was a collapse on the 3rd floor of the building for an unknown reason. Upon notice, AFAD, UMKE, fire brigade, health and police teams were dispatched to the scene.
It has been reported that 8 people, including 3 children, have been rescued alive so far during the search and rescue efforts, and it was stated that, according to the Population Registry System data, the building was built in 1987 as ground floor + 6 floors. It was stated that a total of 33 people lived in the building, where the ground floor was used as a workplace and 12 flats on the upper floors were used as residences, while citizens living in flats that were not affected by the collapse were evacuated after the incident.
While 8 of the 14 people living in the 4 flats in the collapsed section were rescued alive; It was reported that search and rescue efforts for the remaining 6 people continued under the coordination of AFAD.
"WE TOOK UP WITH THE MOBILE ELEVATOR PROVIDED BY THE FIRE TEAMS"
Tolga Gürpınar, who was rescued from the wreckage, talked about the moments he experienced. Stating that the incident took place around 06:00, Gürpınar said, "The incident happened around 6:00. I was sleeping, but of course we woke up due to that effect."
Stating that the fire brigades worked with great care during the evacuation, Gürpınar said, "The fire brigades remained as sane, moderate and calm as possible, and tried to ensure the evacuation of the teams without complicating their work. We also tried to help them. We tried to do it as quickly as possible. We went out with the mobile elevator taken out by the fire brigades."
Explaining that the doors were closed due to the impact of the incident and therefore they could not use the stairs, Gürpınar said, "So the doors were closed. Therefore, we could not use the stairs." Speaking about the evacuation of citizens on other floors of the building, Gürpınar said, "I think only the friends on the third or fourth floor left by themselves."
"I AM THE HOME OWNER"
Stating that he owns a house in the building, Gürpınar said that the building is old. Gürpınar explained that, as neighbors, they had previously taken the initiative to have the building undergo urban transformation.
"WE INTENDED FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION"
Gürpınar said, "Well, our building was an old building anyway. All the neighbors had already intended to do an urban transformation. There was also a "Half of It is on Us" campaign, etc. But it remained there. We didn't do anything, I mean, we didn't tie it to a contract, but we had met with the contractors."
"WE WERE NOT CONCLUDED FOR THE CORE DRILLING, I WISH WE WERE"
Stating that he had no information about whether a core was taken for the building or not, Gürpınar said, "Therefore, I do not know if a core was taken. I do not have much knowledge about it. We intended to do it, but we did not finalize it. What can we say, I wish we had done it."
"MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE NOT AT HOME"
Stating that he was alone at home at the time of the incident, Gürpınar said, "Thank God, my wife and daughter were not at home. I was alone at home."
WERE COLUMNS CUT IN THE BUILDING?
Stating that he did not want to comment on the allegations that a column was cut in the building, Gürpınar said, "This is a legal issue, I do not want to comment on this issue. Our experts will examine it and do what is necessary. But I cannot subject anyone to such a heavy accusation about something that I have not witnessed."
"SOME OF OUR SURVIVED NEIGHBORS SAY THAT THEY HEARD A CRACKING SOUND"
When asked whether there had been any cracks in the building before, Gürpınar said, "Our building was cracked." Stating that some of their neighbors said they heard sounds before the incident, Gürpınar said, "By the way, some of our neighbors who survived say that they heard small crackling sounds. But of course, these did not attract my attention personally. If they had, I would not have entered the house anyway."
Speaking about the allegations of colon amputation, Gürpınar said, "But, well, I have no knowledge about colon amputation. It is a sensitive issue. It would not be right for me to comment."
"A PIECE OF CONCRETE FALLED"
Gürpınar also explained how he was injured during the incident. Stating that he was injured as a result of a piece of concrete falling, Gürpınar said, "The piece of concrete fell. It wasn't really anything serious, but they did the emergency thing, did a little dressing, cleaned the wound. I had a little bleeding, but after all, it's our home. What's my little wound? What's a drop or two of blood?" he said.
Stating that they also received information from the WhatsApp group created by the people living in the building, Gürpınar said, "We have a WhatsApp group. Thank God, we received the news of the evacuation of many of our friends there. I think there are 1-2 people left that could not be reached. But I am not sure about that either."
