An alarm was sounded in the back of two buildings on Ebe Street, in the Ayvansarai district of the Fatih municipality, with rescue crews operating at the scene in anxious conditions.
According to the latest information, the collapse was caused after an explosion which is probably attributed to a natural gas leak. After the incident, strong forces of the police, fire brigade, EKAB and the disaster management agency (AFAD) rushed to the scene, while security measures have been taken in the area.
Initially, there was no clear picture of the number of people trapped, however, according to a statement from the Istanbul governor’s office, it is estimated that five people were under the debris. So far, three people have been freed and taken to hospitals, while searches continue for two more.
According to CNN TÜRK, many citizens have gathered in the area and are trying to help the rescue crews, even climbing on top of the ruins, while stretchers and rescuers are constantly being brought to the scene.
The area is characterized by the presence of old and often abandoned buildings, which heightens concerns about security conditions. As can be seen from the first images, the collapsed buildings also appear to be old.
Search and rescue operations are in full swing, with the authorities remaining on alert and not ruling out any possibility.
