A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday in Gebze, a northwestern city in Turkey, when a seven-story apartment building collapsed, leaving five members of a single family trapped beneath the debris. Gebze Governor İlhami Aktas confirmed the identities of those trapped, though the status of their survival remains uncertain. Rescue operations are currently underway, led by teams from the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD). The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, with no definitive answers yet. However, Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz speculated that ongoing metro construction in the vicinity might have contributed to the disaster. Gebze, situated along the north Anatolian fault line, has a history of seismic activity, most notably during the devastating 1999 earthquake that claimed approximately 18,000 lives. The incident has raised concerns about building safety and urban development practices in the region.
Rescue operations underway after 7-story building collapses in northwest Turkey
