AKP mayor responds to metro claims regarding building collapse in Gebze

Speaking about the collapse of a building in Gebze that claimed the lives of 4 people, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın said regarding the metro construction allegations, "It is too early to say it is related; no possibility will be ignored."

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AKP mayor responds to metro claims regarding building collapse in Gebze

Following the collapse of the 7-story Arslan Apartment building in the Mevlana neighborhood of Gebze around 07:00 on the morning of October 29, 4 out of a family of 5 trapped in the rubble lost their lives. Only 18-year-old Dilara Bilir was pulled from the wreckage alive.

While the nearby metro construction was cited as a reason for the building's collapse, it was alleged that cracks had formed in the apartment's columns before the tragic incident and that this situation had been reported to the municipality, with municipal teams reportedly assessing that it "did not pose a problem." Additionally, it was learned that similar cracks were detected in another building on the same street and that this situation had been reported to CİMER months ago.

Numerous apartment buildings in the neighborhood where the building collapsed were evacuated and sealed as a precautionary measure.

While AFAD, fire department, and municipal teams continue their investigations in the area, it was stated that technical work regarding the cause of the collapse is ongoing.

"IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY IT IS RELATED"

Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, and AFAD President Orhan Tatar, who arrived at the scene, answered questions from members of the press.

Büyükakın used the following expressions regarding the allegations of a connection to the metro construction:

"To say it is related to the metro construction, to say it is not related, to say it happened because of this or that is a very early approach right now. Everything needs to be looked at. No possibility will be ignored."

"A GROUND-BASED ISSUE IS BEING FOCUSED ON"

Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş touched upon the preliminary investigations, stating, "It is even too early to call it a preliminary assessment. A ground-based issue is being focused on. They will make measurements with very sensitive devices."