Istanbul, Turkey— Six workers were injured Thursday when an elevator cable snapped inside a commercial center, sending the cabin into a free fall before emergency brakes caught it.
The incident happened around 11:20 a.m. at a five-story complex in the Bagcilar district. The elevator was carrying maintenance and cleaning staff between floors. It was moving from the third to the ground floor when the main cable gave way.
The cabin dropped two floors. It hit the buffer springs in the shaft pit with force. The six inside were thrown against the walls. Two suffered leg fractures. The others had back injuries and cuts.
Building management called AFAD and fire brigades. Rescue teams pried open the doors on the first floor. They pulled the workers out on stretchers. All were conscious when removed.
"This was not a passenger elevator for shoppers. It was a service lift used by staff," a district municipal official told reporters at the scene. "We will examine maintenance records and the cable itself."
Workers at the center said the elevator had made strange noises for weeks. One cleaner said it shook when it started. Complaints were filed with the building administration, but no repair was done.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security sent inspectors to the site. They sealed the elevator shaft. The company responsible for monthly maintenance was identified. Its license will be reviewed.
Commercial centers across Istanbul rely on old service lifts to move goods and staff. Safety checks are required every year. In practice, many are skipped. Fines are low.
Police said a criminal investigation for negligence has been opened. The six workers remain hospitalized in stable condition.
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