Elderly man killed as apartment crumbles during destruction in Ankara

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The six-floor building had been evacuated as part of an urban transformation plan. CİHAN photo

A disabled person was killed after an apartment crumbled unexpectedly while being demolished by workers, as part of an urban transformation project in Ankara’s Altındağ district Feb. 3.

The number of casualties could rise as the search is ongoing for five other people thought to be under the debris, officials said.

Öcal Çetinkaya, a 68-year-old street vendor with disabilities, was passing by the construction site on his wheelchair when he was trapped by falling rubble, according to officials.

The building had been evacuated as part of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality’s urban transformation plan.