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Arslan Apartment Building Collapse – Kocaeli,Turkey – October 29th
Table of Contents
Summary
A 7-storey apartment building (Arslan Apartment Building) collapsed in the Mevlana District of Kocaeli,Turkey,on October 29th. authorities were alerted after residents of a nearby 6-storey building reported cracks in columns. As a precaution, 21 flats in two nearby buildings were evacuated. Debris removal has begun,and investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse,including potential links to nearby metro construction and ground conditions.
Details
Building Collapse & Evacuations
- Location: Mevlana District, Issıkgöl Street, Kocaeli, Turkey
- Date: october 29th
- Building: 7-storey Arslan Apartment Building
- Trigger: Cracks reported in a nearby 6-storey building on İbrahim Ağa Street in Gaziler District (100 meters away).
- Evacuations: 21 flats in two nearby buildings evacuated as a precaution.
- Response: Police, AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency),and fire brigades dispatched.
Debris Removal
- Gebze Municipality teams are removing debris.
- Excavators are loading rubble into trucks.
- Irrigation is being used to suppress dust.
- The building will be removed down to road level, then the foundation will be examined by experts.
Investigation & Statements
- Key Personnel on Site: Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş,Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın,Earthquake and Risk Reduction General Director Prof. Dr. Orhan Tatar,and Murat Oral (General Director of Construction Affairs,Ministry of Environment,Urbanization and Climate Change).
- Metro construction: Mayor Büyükakın stated it’s too early to determine if the collapse is related to nearby metro construction. A thorough investigation will be conducted.
- Ground Conditions: Prof. Dr. Orhan Tatar emphasized the importance of understanding the ground conditions (local vs. wide area).Sensors are being placed in nearby buildings to monitor movement.
- Ministerial Involvement: Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum inspected the site with other stakeholders.
- Evacuated Buildings: Minister Kurum stated 16 buildings have been evacuated.
Potential Causes
- Geological Structure: The geological structure is considered a prominent potential problem.
- Ground-Related Issues: Detailed studies are being conducted by academics from Boğaziçi,Fırat,Kocaeli and Gebze Technical universities to determine if ground-related problems contributed to the collapse.
Buildings evacuated (Preliminary Data)
| Building Type | Number of Flats Evacuated | Reason for Evacuation |
|---|---|---|
| Nearby Buildings | 21 | Precautionary – Cracks observed in nearby structures |
| total (as per Minister Kurum) | 16 | Precautionary – Ongoing assessment of structural integrity |
