The authorities of Istanbul, in the west of Turkey, have communicated this Thursday that two people have lost their lives after a seven-story building collapsed in the Cevizli neighborhood, in the Maltepe district, where emergency teams have encountered significant obstacles to assist those affected.
In an official note, the office of the governor of Istanbul has explained that the residents of the upper floors were successfully evacuated and has specified that the collapse affected the three lowest floors of the block, although the risk of new collapses in the structure persists.
So far, about ten people, including three minors, have been rescued alive from the rubble. The Fire Department, which maintains its deployment at the site, was mobilized around 6:00 AM (local time).
The governor of Istanbul, Davut Gul, has detailed in another statement that it is estimated that about 33 people lived in the building and that a total of 14 were in the basement, the first and the second floor when the collapse occurred.
Additionally, he has indicated that search and rescue efforts continue to locate three people, while he has emphasized that the health condition of the survivors is "good" and "there is no life-threatening danger."
The governor has added that the causes of the collapse are under investigation while emergency work on the ground continues.