Disastrous retaining wall failure followed by building collapse in Turkey

A retaining wall gave away causing a landslide and leaving a building hanging on a cliff before it finally collapsed in Istanbul's Beyoglu district.

According to authorities, the collapse of the wall was a result of poor engineering and heavy rainfall. Police and fire department of Istanbul immediately evacuated the hazardous four-store building that lied on the top of the landslide along with 2 adjacent residential constructions.

The building finally collapsed after several hours while television crews broadcast live the dramatic incident. A large area was influenced as debris was spread.

Ahmet Misbah Demircan, Mayor of Beyoglu, told media that the building was constructed illegally in 1994. It did not have an occupancy permit or a construction license while problems with its foundation were reported. To this day, it is not clear why authorities did not address the issue.