Ministry of Transport breaks silence on collapsed building in Gebze: Response to metro allegations

On October 29, at approximately 07:00, a 7-story building collapsed in Gebze, and 4 members of a five-person family, including children aged 12 and 14, lost their lives. 19 buildings in the area were evacuated.

It has emerged that local residents had filed complaints with CİMER stating that cracks had formed in their buildings following metro construction work.

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT ON THOSE ALLEGATIONS

According to a report by Halk TV, Ministry of Transport sources stated that the metro construction in the region was completed a year and a half ago and that there is currently no excavation work taking place.

It was reported that the metro will open soon, with tracks laid and electrical lines connected.

Sources stated that there are no cracks in the road above the metro and that the only building that did not remain standing was the one that collapsed.

On the other hand, Ministry sources stated that since there was no collapse in the other buildings, the 'problem' lay with the collapsed building itself.

Stating that the ground on which the building stood was poor, consisting of uncontrolled fill and a water-saturated environment, the sources described the failure to reinforce the building's foundation as a major weakness.

The sources reported that the footage taken by AFAD at the collapsed building also shows the soil had liquefied due to water.

Stating that there is not 'a single drop' of water in the metro tunnel, the sources emphasized that the fact that the area under the building was 'like a lake' is grave.

News Source: 12punto