02.12.2025 11:48
The massive quarry used for the lime factory in Başakşehir has turned into a haunting sight in the center of the city following the factory's closure. The neighborhood, established in the middle of an area surrounded by deep cliffs, makes the hearts of onlookers race. The region has become the focal point of a debate that has divided residents over both safety and ground stability.
In the Altınşehir neighborhood of Başakşehir, a massive cliff remains in the middle of the city after a stone quarry that used to operate in Zeytinburnu closed years ago. Over time, illegal houses were built on the edge of the cliff. Nowadays, dozens of houses stand meters high at the edge of the cliff. The area has seen people lose their lives due to occasional collapses, and the lack of preventive measures astonishes onlookers.
"NOT IN A CONDITION TO BE DESTROYED, NOT SOLID"
İbrahim Öztürk, who has lived in the neighborhood for many years, argues that the ground in the area is not solid. Öztürk draws attention to the lack of infrastructure in the region, stating, "The ground here is not solid. There is no infrastructure, no natural gas here. They call this a site area and do not give us title deeds. You see, the houses are in a state of collapse. It has been like this for a long time. This place used to be a stone quarry. People have previously fallen and died here. This is a cliff, not a solid place," expressing his concerns. Öztürk's words, combined with the title deed issue, reveal the risky structure of the region.
"SOLID ROCK, EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT AREA"
Ayhan Karakaş, a resident of the same neighborhood, holds an opposing view. Karakaş states that the ground in the area is rocky and therefore solid and earthquake-resistant. He says, "The ground here is solid, and because it is rock underneath, it is an earthquake-resistant area. You can see the rock when you look from here. Including the place we are currently standing on, everywhere here is rock. In my youth, the lime extracted from here was sent to the Zeytinburnu lime factory. After that factory closed, this place stopped. This was a place that was blasted with dynamite. This place is very solid in terms of health," he said.
TERRIFYING SCENERY CAPTURED FROM THE AIR
This massive cliff formed in the heart of the city and the settlement right next to it were also captured by a drone from the air. The images reveal the size of the deep void left after the stone quarry and the proximity of the houses to the cliff.