School Construction Landslide Opens 4.5-Meter Pit in Istanbul Neighborhood

A landslide at a school construction site in Istanbul's Sultangazi district created a pit about 4.5 meters deep in the garden of a neighboring housing complex. The incident occurred following pile-driving work at the construction site. Cracks and subsidence appeared on the ground of the basketball court where children play.

Residents reported ground separations around the buildings and asked authorities for help. Site manager Ismail Gurcay said the construction caused cavities and that the area beneath the court had emptied. He stated the site poured 45 tons of concrete, but the filling was not yet sufficient.

“If this had happened when children came out of school and played, God forbid, it could have caused a child's death.”

Resident Banu Ergin, who has lived there for 17 years, said she had never experienced such a problem before. She described the pit as initially half the size of a room and growing to nearly the size of a full room by the next day. She said residents want urban transformation but could not reach an agreement.

Ergin noted the landslide happened in the morning hours, potentially preventing a tragedy if children had been at the court after school. She said doors in the buildings now jam and are difficult to open and close. Residents expressed concern about their safety and the possible demolition of the buildings.

Retaining walls and foundation piles were installed, but residents say they remain worried about their lives. They called on authorities to inspect the ground urgently. The complex's usage areas were affected, though the full extent of damage to trees and pavement was cut off in one report.