Gas Explosion Causes Collapse of Two Residential Buildings in Istanbul: Injuries Reported and Rescue Efforts Ongoing

Two residential buildings collapsed on Sunday in the Fatih district in central Istanbul, reportedly due to a gas leak believed to have caused the incident, according to Turkish media.

Rescue teams immediately launched intensive search and rescue operations under the rubble, successfully pulling out several trapped individuals in the initial phase and transferring them to hospitals for treatment.

In this context, Turkish Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu confirmed that emergency teams rescued eight people from under the debris, noting that all injured individuals were taken to hospitals for medical care.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül stated that nine people had been trapped under the rubble, adding that one of those rescued did not require hospitalization.

Authorities continue their investigations to determine the exact circumstances of the incident, with initial indications pointing to a gas leak as the primary cause of the building collapse.