Kartal building collapse in Istanbul sparks safety concerns

A five‑storey building in Istanbul’s Kartal district, slated for urban renewal, was evacuated ten days earlier. In the early hours of a recent night, the balconies of the third, fourth and fifth floors and the upper‑story wall collapsed, sending concrete debris onto the street and striking parked cars. Fire‑fighters, police and municipal crews responded, clearing the wreckage and installing iron barriers around the site.

Local resident Musa Keleş reported that scrap‑metal workers had removed the building’s reinforcing steel, leaving the structure weakened. He said demolition has not been ordered, the building continues to emit cracking noises, and illegal activity—including drug use and fire‑setting—occurs in the vacant premises, heightening the risk of a further collapse.

Authorities have opened an investigation and are maintaining a safety cordon while residents await the building’s demolition.