Minister Kurum's statement on buildings evacuated in Gebze: The number has risen to 16

Following the collapse of the 7-story Arslan Apartment building on Issıkgöl Street in the Mevlana neighborhood on October 29 at around 07:00, a report was received in the evening hours regarding cracked columns in a 5-story building on İbrahim Ağa Street in the Gaziler neighborhood, near the site of the collapse. Upon the report, police, AFAD, and fire department teams were dispatched to the scene.

Following inspections, 21 apartments in 3 buildings were evacuated. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum also arrived in the region to receive information. Minister Kurum made statements to journalists after his inspections in the area.

"WE ARE CONDUCTING INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENTS"

Wishing God's mercy upon the members of the Bilir family who lost their lives in the 7-story Arslan Apartment building and offering his condolences to their relatives, Minister Murat Kurum pointed out that they are investigating the causes of the collapse in detail. Kurum continued his words as follows:

"We are conducting individual assessments of all the surrounding buildings together with the work of our scientists, our AFAD, our Ministry, and our General Directorate of Construction Affairs. We are conducting a detailed ground survey here because when we look at the construction year of the building, it was built in 2012. It is a building that has a license, an occupancy permit, and has partially received building inspection services. Therefore, we are conducting a detailed study with professors from Boğaziçi University, Fırat University, Kocaeli University, and Gebze Technical University regarding whether there is a problem originating from the ground."

"16 BUILDINGS EVACUATED"

Announcing that 16 buildings in the region have been evacuated as of today, Minister Murat Kurum said, "In this context, as of today, we have evacuated 16 of our homes. We are currently hosting the citizens living in our 16 buildings in our guesthouses and hotels. Again, in order to address the grievances of our citizens here, we will provide all kinds of necessary support, including financial support, to both our tradespeople and our citizens living here who cannot enter their homes, through our municipality and our Governorship."

"WE ARE EXAMINING DEMANDS AND PROBLEMS IN DETAIL"

Referring to the apartment building that collapsed in Kartal Orhantepe in 2019, Minister Murat Kurum concluded his words as follows:

"Of course, you will remember that we lost our lives due to an apartment collapse in Kartal Orhantepe before. We examined the region there quickly, conducted detailed studies, and subsequently took all necessary precautions. We listened to our citizens here as well. We are examining the incoming demands and problems in detail. All necessary work and procedures will be carried out in Gebze as well. May our citizens rest assured. We will carry out this process together with both our Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality and Gebze Municipality, both regarding the measures to be taken after the ground survey and the steps to be taken regarding the buildings that need to be renewed here. I wish God's mercy upon the lives we have lost. I express my condolences to all of Gebze and Kocaeli once again. May we have patience."