Apartment building collapse (Image credit: Pexel)
A residential building in the central Turkish city of Konya collapsed on January 25, 2025, resulting in the deaths of two people and raising critical concerns about construction practices and building safety in the region. Emergency teams responded quickly to the scene, where they rescued a surviving resident from the rubble. Authorities have launched an investigation into the causes of the disaster, with early reports pointing to the removal of a supporting column on the ground floor as a likely factor.
Details of the Incident
The six-story apartment building, located in the city’s Karatay district, crumbled suddenly, trapping several occupants inside. Emergency response teams, including search and rescue personnel, firefighters, and medics, worked through the wreckage to recover victims and survivors. Two people were confirmed dead, while others managed to escape or were pulled to safety.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that preliminary findings indicate the collapse was due to an unauthorized structural alteration. Specifically, it is suspected that a ground-floor column was removed during renovations, which may have led to the failure of the building’s load-bearing capacity. Officials are currently investigating potential violations of construction regulations and whether the building had been structurally compromised over time.
Structural Integrity and Urban Safety Concerns
Building collapses are an ongoing issue in Turkey, often linked to poor construction standards, insufficient enforcement of regulations, and illegal modifications. While Turkey has taken steps to enhance building safety—especially in the wake of past devastating earthquakes—unauthorized modifications and aging infrastructure continue to pose risks.
The tragic incident in Konya underscores the importance of strict enforcement of building regulations, routine inspections, and public awareness regarding the dangers of unapproved structural changes. Local authorities have pledged to hold those responsible accountable and are reviewing safety measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Apartment building collapse (Image credit: Picryl)
A Systems Engineering Perspective
From a systems engineering standpoint, incidents like this highlight the need for a robust, lifecycle-based approach to infrastructure design and management. Buildings should be treated as complex systems that require continuous monitoring, adherence to engineering best practices, and strict regulatory oversight. A systems approach to structural safety involves:
- Design Verification: Ensuring all modifications maintain structural intergity.
- Risk Analysis: Using sound modeling techniques to assess potential failure modes, probabilities and impacts before modifications are committed to.
- Regulatory Compliance Systems: Ensuring oversight and reporting mechanisms that detect unauthorized structural changes.
- Lifecycle Management: Regular monitoring to detect impending failures.
By applying systems engineering principles, authorities and engineers can better mitigate risks and enhance the resilience of urban infrastructure, ultimately preventing tragedies like the one in Konya.
References
The Guardian, 2025, ‘Apartment Block Collapses in Turkey’, The Guardian, viewed 25th January 2025, <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/25/apartment-block-collapses-in-turkey>
The Structural Engineer, 2025, ‘Konya, Turkey Building Complex Collapsed Resulting in Two Fatalities’, The Structural Engineer, viewed 25th January 2025, <https://www.thestructuralengineer.info/news/konya-turkey-building-complex-collapsed-resulting-in-two-fatalities>
Marzieh Rahmani, 2025, ‘Building Collapses in Turkey’s Konya Leaves 2 Dead’, Mehr News, viewed 25th January 2025, <https://en.mehrnews.com/news/227415/Building-collapses-in-Turkey-s-Konya-leaves-2-dead>
Qatar Tribune, 2025, ‘Two Killed in Collapsed Apartment Building in Central Turkey’, Qatar Tribune, viewed 25th January 2025, <https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/160096/world/two-killed-in-collapsed-apartment-building-in-central-turkey>
Newsroom, 2025, ‘Konya Building Collapse Due to Ground-Floor Column Being Cut, Interior Minister’, Türkiye Today, viewed 25th January 2025, <https://www.turkiyetoday.com/turkiye/konya-building-collapse-due-to-ground-floor-column-being-cut-interior-minister-110908/>
PA News Agency, 2025, ‘Two People Trapped as Apartment Building Collapses in Central Turkey’, Ham & High, viewed 25th January 2025, <https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/national/24884455.two-people-trapped-apartment-building-collapses-central-turkey/>
