Two people have lost their lives following the collapse of an apartment building in Konya, central Turkey.
State media reports that rescue teams have retrieved the bodies of a 23-year-old woman and a man, believed to be her husband, from the rubble.
Three other individuals were rescued and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital, according to Anadolu news agency. The incident has raised concerns about building safety in the country, particularly after previous disasters.
The collapse occurred just days after a devastating fire at a 12-story hotel in a ski resort in northwestern Turkey, which claimed the lives of 78 people. Investigations into the fire are examining whether preventive measures had been followed.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 79 people were registered as residents of the four-story building that collapsed in Konya, a city located about 260 km south of the capital, Ankara.
This incident comes just two weeks before the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, killing more than 59,000 people. The high death toll from that disaster was closely linked to the disregard for building safety regulations.
The case brings to mind the tragedy of 2004, when a 12-story building in Konya collapsed, killing 92 people and injuring 30 others, due to structural defects and negligence. Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the latest collapse and the relevant responsibilities.
