03.11.2026 16:33
In Istanbul's Zeytinburnu district, the balcony of the apartment on the top floor of a 4-story building built in 1992 in Sümer Neighborhood collapsed with a loud noise. Falling debris also damaged the balconies on the lower floors. While the 17-apartment building was evacuated as a precaution, accommodation was allocated for the residents. A decision on the condition of the structure will be made after the examination of the core samples taken.
The balcony of the top-floor apartment in a 34-year-old 4-storey building in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, collapsed. The collapse also damaged balconies on the lower floors, and the apartment building containing 17 flats was evacuated as a precaution. The damage to the building and the teams' work were filmed from the air.
The incident occurred in a 4-storey building on Merv Street in Sümer Neighborhood. The balcony of the top-floor apartment of the building, constructed in 1992, collapsed with a loud noise for a reason not yet known. As a result of the collapse, falling pieces caused damage to the balconies on the lower floors as well. Upon notification, fire brigade and municipal teams were dispatched to the scene. The building, which is understood to have 17 flats, was evacuated as a precaution, and accommodation was allocated for the residents.
CORE SAMPLES TO BE TAKEN
Security measures were taken around the building with metal sheets, and the street was temporarily closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. It was learned that a decision on the condition of the structure will be made after core samples taken from the building by teams affiliated with the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization are examined.
RESIDENT: WE THOUGHT IT WAS AN EARTHQUAKE
Gürcan Ersoy, who lives in the building, said, "Thank God we have no loss of life. While I was lying in my bed, there was suddenly a loud rumble. We didn't understand at all; we thought it was an earthquake. The roof section on the top floor of the building had been leaning for a long time. It fell completely from the roof section, taking all the balconies down with it, and everywhere suddenly turned into bricks. There had been a leaning in the roof section for years. When the roof collapsed, the balconies collapsed one by one. Thankfully there was no one below. There was no loss of life. The building is 30-40 years old. The iron had worn out and become old. We saw it with our own eyes. There was no work related to urban transformation." he said.