Overview

• The fire broke out on the fourth floor of the 26-story Çankaya residential tower around 10 pm on July 12 and was extinguished nearly four hours later.
• Three people died—including a three-month-old infant—and authorities hospitalized 20 people with one in critical condition, while 39 others suffered light smoke inhalation.
• First responders cut electricity and gas supplies before firefighters, police and teams from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) evacuated residents and treated dozens on site.
• A formal inquiry led by the public prosecutor is focusing on a suspected electrical shaft fault as the potential cause of the blaze.
• The incident has intensified scrutiny over enforcement of fire and construction safety standards for Turkey’s multi-story residential buildings following previous structural disasters.