A devastating building collapse in the city of Gebze, northwestern Turkey, has claimed the lives of four members of the same family, leaving only one survivor — the eldest daughter.
According to the state broadcaster TRT, the victims were identified as Levent Bilir, 43, his wife Emine, 37, and their two children, Hayrunnisa, 14, and Muhammed Emir, 12. Their 18-year-old daughter, Dilara Bilir, was rescued alive from the rubble by emergency crews after hours of searching through the debris of the seven-story building.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the reasons are still unknown, while Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz told local media the incident might be linked to nearby metro construction works.
A Region Prone to Earthquake Risk
Gebze lies on the North Anatolian Fault, one of the most active seismic zones in the world. The area was heavily affected by the 1999 earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and killed around 18,000 people.
Experts have long warned that Turkey’s failure to consistently enforce modern building codes leaves residents vulnerable to disasters, particularly in earthquake-prone regions.
Earlier this year, in January, the collapse of a four-story building in Konya killed two people. Authorities later charged local shopkeepers who had allegedly removed key support columns to expand retail space — a dangerous and illegal practice that continues despite harsh penalties. If convicted, they face up to 22 years in prison.
