Tragedy Strikes Gebze: Building Collapse Traps Family

A seven-storey apartment building collapsed in Gebze, Turkiye, trapping five family members. Rescue operations are ongoing, with the cause of the collapse yet unknown. Officials suggest it might be linked to nearby metro construction. Gebze's history of seismic activity raises concerns over infrastructure safety.

A catastrophic building collapse in Gebze, a city in northwestern Turkiye, has left five individuals trapped beneath the debris early Wednesday morning. This incident has raised serious safety concerns as rescue efforts commence.

According to Gebze Governor Ilhami Aktas, the unfortunate victims belong to a single family. While the extent of injuries and potential casualties remains uncertain, emergency response teams, including the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD), have been deployed to the scene.

Preliminary reports from the state-run Anadolu Agency indicate that the cause of the collapse is still under investigation. Mayor Zinnur Buyukgoz speculated that nearby metro construction might be a contributing factor. This adds to Gebze's historical vulnerability to seismic events, reminiscent of the devastating 1999 earthquake.

(With inputs from agencies.)