The bodies of a 23-year-old woman and a man believed to be her husband were recovered Saturday from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in Konya, central Turkey, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
Emergency responders rescued three other individuals, who are now receiving medical care at a local hospital. The four-story building, located 260 kilometers south of Ankara, collapsed Friday evening, sparking an investigation into the incident.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed that 79 residents were registered as living in the apartment block. He confirmed that the last two individuals pulled from the debris were Syrian nationals. Yerlikaya stated that the cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, pledging transparency in uncovering any negligence or structural faults.
Authorities detained four individuals linked to ground-floor businesses as part of the ongoing investigation.
The collapse follows a deadly fire earlier in the week that claimed 78 lives at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey, reigniting concerns about building safety standards.
This incident also brings back memories of past tragedies in the region. In 2004, a 12-story building in Konya collapsed, killing 92 people and injuring dozens, with structural flaws blamed for the disaster.
The tragedy comes just weeks ahead of the second anniversary of a devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, claiming over 59,000 lives. Experts at the time cited widespread neglect of safety regulations as a key factor in the high death toll.
Photos from the scene show emergency workers sifting through rubble, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced building safety measures in Turkey.
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