A seven-story building in İstanbul’s Maltepe district partially collapsed, revealing that the top two floors were constructed illegally. Maltepe Mayor Esin Köymen confirmed the building’s plans, retrieved from municipal archives, showed an approved five-story structure with two additional unlawful floors. Records indicate the building received occupancy permission for only five floors. Authorities are investigating the possibility that columns were cut in the building’s lower level, which houses a textile workshop, potentially contributing to the collapse. The municipality is reviewing past reports to understand the history of the structural issues. The illegal construction raises concerns about building safety and regulatory oversight in Maltepe. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collapse and assess the extent of the damage.