Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: As rescuers still pulled a lucky few from the rubble 6 days after two massive earthquakes devastated southeast Turkiye and northern Syria, Turkish officials arrested or issued arrest warrants for about 130 people allegedly involved in the construction of buildings that collapsed and crushed their occupants.
The death tally from Monday’s quakes stood at 28,191, while over 80,000 were injured as of Sunday morning, and was likely to rise as bodies kept emerging.
As despair also generated anger at the slow rescue operations, the focus turned to who was responsible for not better preparing people in the quake-prone region that includes an area of Syria also.
Contractors generally ignore construction rules codes in Turkiye
Even though Turkiye has, on paper, construction rules and regulations that meet earthquake-engineering standards, they are too rarely enforced.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said in a statement that warrants have been issued to arrest 131 people suspected of being responsible for tearing down buildings.
Turkiye’s justice minister has promised to punish anyone responsible, and prosecutors have started gathering samples of buildings for evidence on construction materials.
Two people were arrested in Gaziantep province on Sunday who were accused of having cut down columns to make extra room in a building that tore down.
Survivors, many of whom lost their loved ones, have also turned their anger and frustration at the authorities.
Rescue staff has been overwhelmed by the widespread devastation, which has damaged roads and airports, making rescue operations more difficult.
