The number of people confirmed dead in Turkey and Syria has now risen to more than 33,000. Experts warned for years that many new buildings in Turkey were unsafe due to widespread corruption and government policies. To encourage a construction boom with many new homes, developers could deviate from building regulations, even in regions prone to earthquakes.
Thousands of apartment buildings collapsed during the earthquake, raising questions about whether the impact of the natural disaster was exacerbated by human failings. Officials in Turkey say 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the construction of the many houses that collapsed in last week’s earthquake.
More arrests are expected, but the move will be seen by many as an attempt to deflect overall blame for the disaster.
With the election looming, the president’s future is at stake after spending 20 years in power. Erdoğan has acknowledged the shortcomings, but during a visit to a disaster zone, he appeared to blame fate. “Things like this have always happened,” he said. “It’s part of fate’s plan,” reports BBC News.
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