One killed, three feared trapped after Istanbul building partially collapses

A seven-storey building in Istanbul partially collapsed on Thursday, killing one person and leaving at least three others trapped inside, officials said.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately known and an investigation was underway. Rescue teams were working to reach those trapped despite warnings that the building could collapse further.

The three lower floors of the building, including a ground-floor shop, collapsed before dawn in Maltepe district on Istanbul's Asian side. The city is divided by the Bosporus Strait.

Residents living on the upper floors were evacuated safely, while rescue teams pulled eight people from the rubble, according to the Interior Ministry. One body was recovered and efforts were underway to reach three people believed to remain trapped.

Earlier, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said rescuers had established contact with a six-year-old child trapped under the rubble. It was not immediately clear whether the child was among those rescued.

Gul warned that the building remained at risk of further collapse, making rescue operations more difficult. Nearby buildings were also evacuated as a precaution, he said.

Istanbul and other parts of Turkiye are undergoing an urban transformation programme aimed at replacing ageing and earthquake-prone buildings with safer housing.  (with inputs from PTI)