Whirlwind destroys two containers at Antalya construction site, killing five workers

A sudden localized whirlwind hit a construction site in the Fevzi Çakmak neighborhood of Antalya's Kepez district around 23:00 on Monday. The weather event affected only the area where two containers housing workers were located, leaving nearby buildings undamaged.

The whirlwind tore the two containers apart and threw them into the air. Two workers died at the scene, while three others died in hospital despite medical intervention. One injured worker remains in hospital in good condition.

“We are faced with a very interesting natural event. No whirlwind warning was reported anywhere else in the city, only here.”

Search and rescue teams, along with health and fire personnel, were dispatched to the site. Authorities are continuing search operations to determine whether any other workers are present.

Antalya Governor Hulusi Şahin visited the scene and described the event as extraordinary. He said no whirlwind was reported elsewhere in the city and that the phenomenon struck only this location.

The governor also stated that a crane in the same area overturned, though no casualties or injuries were linked to it. Identity checks for the deceased workers are ongoing.

A provincial coordination council meeting held earlier in the day had emphasized the need to prepare for extreme weather events.