Police in Turkey issue 131 arrest warrants after buildings collapsed

Police in quake-hit Turkey issue 131 arrest warrants for contractors after thousands of buildings collapsed amid claims they ignored regulations to encourage construction boom

• Turkish police have already taken at least 12 people into custody since the quake
• Thousands of rescue workers are scouring flattened neighbourhoods for victims

Police in quake-hit Turkey have issued 131 arrest warrants for contractors after thousands of buildings collapsed, amid claims they ignored regulations to encourage a construction boom. 

Turkish police have already taken at least 12 people into custody – with the unrest disrupting rescue efforts in some places. 

The death toll has passed 28,000 since the earthquake hit on Monday but there are fears this figure could reach 50,000. 

Meanwhile, more arrests are expected, but the action will be seen by many as an attempt to divert overall blame for the tragedy.

Experts warned for years that many new buildings in Turkey were unsafe due to endemic corruption and government policies. 

 Police in Turkey have issued 131 arrest warrants for contractors, after thousands of buildings collapsed amid claims they ignored regulations to encourage a construction boom

For years experts warned many new buildings in Turkey were unsafe due to endemic corruption and government policies

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan admitted shortcomings in the response, but during one visit to a disaster zone he apparently blamed fate

Tens of thousands of rescue workers are today scouring flattened neighbourhoods despite freezing weather that has deepened the misery of millions 

According to the BBC, those policies allowed so-called amnesties for contractors who swerved building regulations, in order to encourage a construction boom – even in earthquake-prone regions. 

Thousands of buildings collapsed during the earthquake, raising questions about whether the natural disaster’s impact was made worse by human error. 

READ MORE: Girl, 10, is pulled from rubble after six days underground in quake-hit Turkey as violent clashes between survivors fighting for food and water hamper rescue efforts 

 

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has admitted shortcomings in the response, but during one visit to a disaster zone he apparently blamed fate. 

‘Such things have always happened. It’s part of destiny’s plan,’ he said. 

Now, six days after the quake hit, the situation is growing more desperate, with tens of thousands of rescue workers scouring flattened neighbourhoods despite freezing weather that has deepened the misery of millions.

Thousands remain trapped yesterday after German rescuers and the Austrian army paused search operations because of clashes between unnamed factions – expected to become more violent as food supplies decrease in the coming days. 

‘There is increasing aggression between factions in Turkey,’ said Austrian Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Kugelweis. ‘The chances of saving a life bears no reasonable relation to the safety risk.’ 

The search for survivors has now resumed under the protection of the Turkish army. 

Throughout southern Turkey and northern Syria, millions are homeless and temperatures continue to drop below freezing every night. 

The UN warned that more than 800,000 people are without adequate meals, while its aid agency on the ground warned the final death toll from the quake is likely to double.

In Syria, the death toll has now passed 3,500, but new figures have not been published since Friday. 

Thousands of buildings collapsed during the earthquake, raising questions about whether the natural disaster’s impact was made worse by human mistakes

The death toll has passed 28,000 since the earthquake struck on Monday but there are fears this figure could reach 50,000

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