A fire broke out during renovation works at an entertainment center located on the basement and ground floors of a building on Gayrettepe Yıldız Posta Street, Gönenoğlu Street. Local shop owner Mehmet Cengiz reported that the flames engulfed the external facade of the building, and one of the building’s caretakers took immediate action to try and contain the fire.
Cengiz mentioned that the natural gas was shut off, preventing the fire from spreading further and completely covering the external facade. He also acknowledged the presence of police officers at a nearby campaign office, to whom they signaled for assistance. He emphasized that the building’s other side was a parking lot and all the gas accumulated there during the incident, leading to the evacuation of the parking lot. Cengiz also shared that approximately 60-70 people were inside the building during the fire, and the emergency teams safely rescued those who were on stretchers but encountered difficulties with others who had entered the building and were faced with intense gas levels.
Another witness, Sema Soğancı, described the chaotic scene during the incident, noting that the entire area felt like it was on fire. She recalled hearing explosions and sounds of cracking and expressed her concern for the people inside the building. Soğancı recounted the panicked atmosphere following the arrival of the firefighters and the emergence of bodies from the building. The sudden and intense nature of the fire left her feeling overwhelmed, with people running in various directions and struggling to find a way out of the building.
The rapid response of the firefighting teams was highlighted, with Soğancı mentioning that they were on the scene within 5-6 minutes of the fire starting. She described the harrowing experience of witnessing the fire and the subsequent chaos that ensued, with individuals screaming and trying to escape. Soğancı noted the challenges faced by those inside the building in exiting, as well as the instructions given by someone to gather in the dressing room for safety. The emotional toll of the situation was evident in her account, as she mentioned crying and feeling her nerves fraying due to the intensity of the fire and the confusion surrounding the evacuation process.
Overall, the incident at the entertainment center on Gayrettepe Yıldız Posta Street resulted in a complex and challenging rescue operation, with witnesses recounting the bravery of the emergency response teams and the frightening chaos that unfolded during the fire. The quick thinking and actions of individuals like Mehmet Cengiz and the building caretaker were crucial in containing the fire initially, while the prompt arrival of firefighters played a vital role in rescuing those trapped inside the building. The emotional impact of the incident on witnesses like Sema Soğancı underscores the traumatic nature of such events and the importance of effective emergency preparedness and response measures in safeguarding lives and property.
