Maltepe building collapse: Architect and site manager arrested

The architect and site manager have been arrested following the collapse of a seven-story building in the Maltepe district of Istanbul, which resulted in five deaths. The incident occurred on October 8 when the first three floors of the building in Cevizli Neighborhood collapsed.

Architect Hasan Balcı and site manager Mevlüt Okumuş were referred to a judge and subsequently arrested on charges of “taksirle öldürme” (manslaughter). During questioning, both suspects denied technical responsibility; Balcı claimed he did not remember the project or perform inspections, while Okumuş stated the signatures on the documents were not his. An expert preliminary report had previously identified both individuals as being at fault.

Investigations revealed that while council decisions were made in 1989 and 1990 to demolish the third through sixth floors—which were built without a permit—those decisions were never implemented.

Among the victims were siblings Zeynep İnan and Ahmet Muhammed İnan. Their bodies were released to their family following autopsy procedures, and funeral services are being organized. During the rescue operation, 14 people were trapped under the rubble, nine of whom were rescued alive.