Consecutive evacuations in Gebze: 3 more buildings sealed

In the Gebze district of Kocaeli, cracks were detected in the load-bearing columns of three buildings located in the Mevlana neighborhood during inspections conducted after the collapse of the Arslan Apartment building on October 29. Following this, residents of a 6-story building on İbrahim Ağa Street in the Gaziler neighborhood noticed cracks in the columns and notified the authorities. Upon receiving the report, police, AFAD, and fire department teams arrived at the scene and determined that there was a risk in the building and two surrounding structures. Residents living in a total of 21 apartments were evacuated for safety reasons.

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum conducted inspections in the area alongside Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş and Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın. Minister Kurum stated, "As of today, we have evacuated 16 buildings. We are hosting our citizens in our guesthouses and hotels. We will take all necessary measures once the ground surveys are completed." Governor Aktaş noted that three buildings around the collapsed structure had been evacuated and that no other risky situations have been identified at this time.

Following the collapse of the Arslan Apartment building, 12 surrounding buildings had also been sealed as a precaution, and 45 families had been evacuated. Expert teams, in collaboration with academics from Boğaziçi, Fırat, Kocaeli, and Gebze Technical universities, are conducting ground surveys and preparing a report on the structural safety and ground conditions in the area. These efforts are considered an important step toward taking new measures against potential risks.