7-Story Building in Gebze, Kocaeli Evacuated as Precaution After Creaking Sounds Detected in Columns and Beams

A 7-story building in the Gebze district of Kocaeli was evacuated today as a precautionary measure after residents reported sounds coming from its columns and beams. According to Cumhuriyet newspaper, the building contains 22 apartments and 8 commercial units.

Officials dispatched teams to the area to begin a structural inspection, while residents were cleared from the building on safety grounds. Authorities are now investigating the possibility of structural damage or ground subsidence.

Inspections of at-risk buildings have accelerated across Turkey since the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, with similar precautionary evacuations carried out in numerous provinces since then. The structural condition of the Gebze building will not be confirmed until inspection results are released. Whether residents will be permitted to return depends on the official report.