Ten-storey building collapses in Turkey

A high-rise apartment block in central Turkey collapsed into a heap of twisted metal and chunks of concrete today, killing at least one person and trapping dozens more, rescuers said.

The cause was not immediately clear, with some officials citing shoddy construction in the 10-storey building in the central city of Konya. Others suggested an explosion in the building’s heater may have been the cause.

Rescuers said 12 people had emerged from the rubble, while one body had been recovered.

About 50 people might still be trapped, they said. Television reports said the number could be as high as 150.

The building housed about 40 apartments. Those rescued, who were mainly from the five-year-old building’s top floors, were in good condition.

The injured were being taken to local hospitals as rescuers searched for more survivors, using digging equipment and their bare hands.

“We heard a gigantic crash,” said Yeter Oguz, the owner of a pastry shop near the collapse site. “

There was so much dust in the air that it took us 10 minutes to figure out which building collapsed.”

The disaster came as Turks celebrated the Islamic Eid al-Adha holiday by visiting friends and relatives. The bottom floor of the building housed shops, which were closed at the time.