Tragic Incident at Turkish Election Celebration: Balcony Collapse Claims Deputy’s Life
Watan-Social media users circulated a video documenting the collapse of a balcony and the fall of the Turkish opposition party deputy leader, Mehmet Balaz, along with several of his aides during celebrations of the victory in the Istanbul municipal elections.
The Turkish newspaper “Milliyet” reported that the deputy head of the region, Mehmet Balaz, lost his life due to the collapse of the balcony while celebrating unofficial election results in the Tavas area in Denizli, with 8 people injured, 3 of them in serious condition.
A widely circulated video showed dozens of Turks waving flags under the crumbling balcony, then suddenly witnessing the balcony collapsing with those on it, leading to more injuries.
According to unofficial results of the 2024 local government elections, the Republican People’s Party mayoral candidate Kadir Tatick advanced in the Tavas area in Denizli.
After the unofficial results appeared, many party members gathered in front of the party building on Yeni Mahalle Karağağanoğlu Street to celebrate the election victory.
Continuation of Celebrations
Alongside the ongoing celebrations on the street, a large group ascended to the second-floor event building and filled its balconies. As the celebrations continued fervently, one of the balconies collapsed under the weight, resulting in injuries to party members both on the street and on the balcony, with 3 of them sustaining serious injuries. The injured, who received initial treatment, were transferred to nearby hospitals by medical teams and were treated.
Among the injured was the deputy head of the Republican People’s Party region, Mehmet Balaz, who suffered a head injury and was in a life-threatening condition. He was transferred to Pamukkale University Hospital after initial treatment at Tavas Government Hospital. Balaz passed away the next morning despite all medical interventions.
Unfinished Joy
Ali Osman Horzum, the head of the Republican People’s Party province, who made a statement in front of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality with the Republican People’s Party mayoral candidate for Denizli, Bülent Nuri Çavuşoğlu, said: “In addition to the joy we experienced, we also felt sadness because of what happened.”
He continued: “The deputy head of the Tavas region organization, Mehmet Balaz, was taken to the hospital after the collapse of the balcony during last night’s celebrations, and we have just received news of his death. My condolences to his family and our party. Let him rest in peace.”
The celebrations held in Turkey witnessed a large gathering of Turkish citizens, with Turkish deputy Mehmet Balaz participating in these celebrations.
The Turkish deputy and his supporters were inside the balcony that suddenly collapsed, resulting in Balaz’s death, while 8 people were taken to the hospital.
