ANTAKYA, Turkey — Officials in Turkey reportedly arrested building contractors six days after deadly earthquakes.
Turkish officials reportedly issued arrest warrants or detained about 130 people who were allegedly involved in some illegal construction methods six days after earthquakes caused buildings to collapse, according to The Associated Press.
As of Sunday morning, the death toll is 33,179 and more than 92,600 have been injured. According to the AP, the number is expected to continue to rise as recovery efforts continue.
Turkey has construction codes that meet the current standards for earthquake engineering on paper but is reportedly not enforced. According to the AP, it could explain why thousands of buildings have collapsed on residents during the earthquakes.
Saturday evening Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said, according to the AP, that warrants have been issued for 131 people who may be responsible for the building collapse.
Turkey’s justice minister reportedly has vowed to hold people accountable who may be responsible, according to the AP. Prosecutors have reportedly begun pulling building samples for evidence. The building samples include materials that were used in the construction of the buildings.
Days earlier the Justice Ministry in Turkey reportedly announced the plans for establishing “Earthquake Crimes Investigation” bureaus, according to the AP. The purpose is to identify contractors and other people who may be responsible. The bureaus will help gather evidence, instruct experts, and check building permits, and occupation permits.
Two contractors on the way to Georgia were reportedly detained at Istanbul airport Sunday, DHA news agency reported according to the AP. They are reportedly being held responsible for the destruction of multiple buildings in Adiyaman.
Two others were reportedly arrested in Gaziantep for allegedly cutting down columns to make extra room, Anadolu Agency said, according to the AP. Another contractor was reportedly detained Friday at Istanbul airport prior to boarding a flight out of Turkey. He was allegedly the contractor of a luxury 12-story building in Antakya and its collapse has left many dead but the number is currently unknown.
The arrests could possibly help direct anger toward contractors and builders publicly. The AP reported that this could turn attention away from local and state officials who reportedly allowed the construction to go through in the first place.
