Tunç emphasised that legal actions had been initiated against those responsible right from the beginning and the matter was being handled with great care. He mentioned that they lost the “Champion Angels” in Adıyaman during the earthquake, with 35 out of the 72* victims coming from North Cyprus.
*Originally reported as 65 victims, however, that number has been revised upwards to 72 [Ed.]
The justice minister also reassured the public, especially the families of the “Champion Angels,” that the ongoing legal process is being closely monitored and that justice will be served.*
*As of now, 11 individuals are facing prosecution in connection with the collapse of the Isias Hotel in Adıyaman, Turkey, where 72 people tragically died on February 6, 2023. Among the defendants, five have been arrested, including the hotel owner, Ahmet Bozkurt, and his sons. These individuals are charged with “causing death and injury to more than one person with conscious negligence”.
The investigation revealed several severe construction issues, including the use of low-quality concrete and improper materials, which contributed to the building’s collapse. The hotel was originally licensed as a residence, and significant discrepancies were found between the licensed plans and the actual structure, which further highlighted the negligence involved.
The trial is ongoing, with the outcome still to be determined
Meanwhile, the Turkish government has been criticised for relaxing building standards, particularly in the years leading up to the devastating earthquakes in February 2023. This relaxation of regulations was part of a broader strategy to stimulate the construction sector, which is a key driver of the Turkish economy.
The Turkish government implemented several “construction amnesties” over the years, which allowed buildings that violated safety codes to be retroactively legalised upon payment of a fine. These amnesties were intended to boost the economy by increasing construction activities but often resulted in permitting unsafe buildings to remain standing.
There was significant pressure on local authorities to fast-track construction projects, often at the expense of thorough safety inspections. This led to widespread non-compliance with earthquake-resistant building standards, which are critical in a seismically active country like Turkey.
Even where strict codes existed, enforcement was often weak, with many buildings failing to meet the required safety standards. Corruption and inadequate oversight worsened these issues, leading to the construction of many vulnerable buildings.
The relaxation of these standards and the failure to enforce existing regulations have been widely blamed for the scale of destruction and loss of life in the February 2023 earthquakes. Critics argue that the government’s policies prioritised economic growth over public safety, contributing to the catastrophic consequences when the earthquakes struck. [Ed.]
