23.06.2025 20:31
A load-bearing column of a seven-story apartment building in Antalya exploded. While the residents of the building were evacuating after hearing a loud noise, teams that arrived at the scene determined through their inspection that the column had sustained serious structural damage.
A loud noise was heard from the 7-story apartment in the Altındağ neighborhood of the Muratpaşa district in Antalya on Saturday night.
LOAD-BEARING COLUMN EXPLODED LIKE A BOMB
Residents who panicked and rushed outside noticed that the load-bearing column in the business on the ground floor had exploded. With the explosion, cracks formed around the column, and teams that arrived at the scene upon notification decided to completely evacuate the building.
VISIBLE DAMAGE
During the inspection, it was determined that there was serious structural damage to the load-bearing column, concrete pieces had fallen off, and the reinforcing bars had bent. As debris formed at the location of the column, the area around the building, which was assessed to have lost its structural integrity, was cordoned off by police teams.
"WE HEARD A NOISE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE"
Ali Polat, one of the residents of the apartment, said, "I live on the first floor, I have been in this building for 3 years. There were earthquakes in the Elmalı area on the night connecting Saturday to Sunday. We suddenly heard a loud noise in the middle of the night. There were problems starting in our neighbor's column. In the morning, we reached out to the governor's office, the district governor's office, and the metropolitan municipality teams. The building has now been completely evacuated. They will come for an inspection from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change. This is a very difficult situation for us; people's belongings are left inside. Transportation costs are very expensive, and moving is also very difficult. Even if we set up a new order, we currently cannot access our belongings," he said.
"BELONGINGS LEFT INSIDE"
Naciye Schadow, whose brother lives in the apartment, said, "I am in shock. I don't know what to say. My sister lives here. She is currently abroad. We received the news by phone and came immediately, but we don't know what to do. Our belongings are left in the apartment; we cannot get them," she said.
"THE MARKET CUT THE COLUMN, NO ONE NOTICED"
Another resident of the apartment, Furkan Doymaz, claimed that the column had been damaged previously. Furkan Doymaz said, "There used to be a big market here, and that market cut one of the main columns. After the market left, the shop owners did not notice the situation. A request for urban transformation had been made, but most people did not want it because the apartment population is elderly. Now the column has exploded. Even the newest building at the end of this street is 40 years old. There is no inspection. Even if there were inspections, I don't know how much you can strengthen buildings made of gravel and sand," he said.