Palace’s collapse risk debated in Turkey

An Istanbul-based academic research center’s report, which claimed that “the historic Dolmabahçe Palace is at risk of collapsing at any moment,” has been rebuffed by officials from the National Palaces Department of Museums and Promotion.

Officials from the department immediately refuted the report, which said the historic palace was close to “exploding” because of coal gas compression.

An official from the Dolmabahçe Place administration said the report was totally “fabricated.”
“Aydın University and Assistant Professor Kubilay Kaptan, who prepared the mentioned report, did not carry out scientific research. The claims that the sewer pipes under the palace are full of coal gas are totally unrealistic,” an official statement issued yesterday by the National Palaces Department of Museums read.

The report, prepared by assistant professor Kubilay Kaptan from the Hazards Education, Application and Research Center of Istanbul Aydın University, said the Dolmabahçe Palace - built between the years 1843 and 1856 - was one of the most risky buildings in Istanbul and required immediate renovation.

“The report listed the buildings currently at risk in Istanbul, and Dolmabahçe Palace is at the top of that list. Considering the current situation of the palace, even driving one nail could cause a disaster,” Kaptan told the Daily News yesterday.

Kaptan also said a real danger came from the structures built around the palace, such as the Swiss Hotel Bosphorus, the Ritz-Carlton and the Beşiktaş İnönü Stadium.

“These buildings cause land pressure on the palace, which was built on a filled area,” Kaptan said. “In the event of a possible earthquake, a disaster is inevitable for Dolmabahçe Palace.”