Five-story building collapses in central Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

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A five-story building collapsed on Feb. 12 off bustling İstiklal Avenue near Istanbul’s Taksim Square in the city’s Beyoğlu district.
The building located on Kurabiye Street, which connects to Istanbul’s most crowded pedestrian street, İstiklal Avenue, collapsed at around 2:30 p.m., around fifteen minutes after a cracking noise was heard, witnesses said.

Initial information suggested no one was inside the building at the time of the collapse, Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin said. 

Beyoğlu Mayor Misbah Demircan, speaking at the site of the collapse, said no injuries were reported.

Citizens sitting in restaurants next to the building immediately went outside just before the collapse while an adjacent building was also damaged.

It was revealed there was a hostel on the first floor of the building which had been undergoing renovations.
Investigations by firefighters, police officers and health personnel were continuing.