ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- Crowds of rescuers descended upon the debris of a multistory apartment building that collapsed Thursday in Istanbul, frantically trying to remove the crumbled concrete to find any survivors.
A CNN Turk reporter on the scene said rescuers have freed a little girl from the rubble, while rescuers could hear voices from the debris.
Construction workers were trying to tear down a building next door and authorities believe that is what caused the apartment complex to collapse around 6 p.m. (11 a.m. ET), Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas told CNN Turk.
At least two people have been confirmed trapped, he said.
Residents said they evacuated the building after hearing a crack in the roof, but some went back inside before the building collapsed, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler told CNN Turk.
At least 17 ambulances had arrived on the scene, located in the Sirinevler neighborhood of Istanbul. The building was at least six stories high, and levels pancaked on top of each other.
A room with couches and a hanging light still attached to the ceiling could be seen amid the rubble, as people searched for anyone who might be trapped.
Two women holding children walked out of an adjacent building that remained intact, but was exposed by the collapse.
An older woman leaned against the wall, sobbing hysterically.
Poor construction standards have been blamed for previous building collapses, especially during earthquakes, which are common in Turkey because it lies on the Anatolia fault.
On February 21, two people died when an Istanbul apartment building collapsed.
Journalist Andrew Finkel and CNN's Talia Kayali contributed to this report
A CNN Turk reporter on the scene said rescuers have freed a little girl from the rubble, while rescuers could hear voices from the debris.
Construction workers were trying to tear down a building next door and authorities believe that is what caused the apartment complex to collapse around 6 p.m. (11 a.m. ET), Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas told CNN Turk.
At least two people have been confirmed trapped, he said.
Residents said they evacuated the building after hearing a crack in the roof, but some went back inside before the building collapsed, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler told CNN Turk.
At least 17 ambulances had arrived on the scene, located in the Sirinevler neighborhood of Istanbul. The building was at least six stories high, and levels pancaked on top of each other.
A room with couches and a hanging light still attached to the ceiling could be seen amid the rubble, as people searched for anyone who might be trapped.
Two women holding children walked out of an adjacent building that remained intact, but was exposed by the collapse.
An older woman leaned against the wall, sobbing hysterically.
Poor construction standards have been blamed for previous building collapses, especially during earthquakes, which are common in Turkey because it lies on the Anatolia fault.
On February 21, two people died when an Istanbul apartment building collapsed.
Journalist Andrew Finkel and CNN's Talia Kayali contributed to this report
No comments:
Post a Comment