First major trial begins in Turkey for construction bungling

First major trial begins in Turkey for construction bungling

Almost a year after the severe earthquakes that claimed tens of thousands of lives, the first major trial for construction negligence has begun in Turkey. Eleven defendants have been on trial in Adiyaman since Wednesday for negligence in the construction of the "Isaias" hotel, whose collapse alone claimed the lives of 72 people. Among the fatalities were 24 children from Northern Cyprus and their guardians who had traveled to Turkey for a volleyball tournament.

The public prosecutor's office accuses the defendants, including the hotel owner, of serious breaches of building and safety regulations. The building, originally constructed as a residential building, was illegally converted into a hotel in 2011. In addition, a storey had been added without permission.

More than 50,000 people were killed in severe earthquakes in the Turkish-Syrian border region on February 6 last year. In the weeks that followed, hundreds of suspects were arrested in Turkey for bungling the construction work.

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1. Despite the coarse process of investigations and arrests following the earthquake, this marks the first major trial in the Year for construction bungles in Turkey.
2. The defendants, including the hotel owner, are being charged for their role in the construction of the "Isaias" hotel, which collapsed in the first year after its illegal conversion into a hotel.
3. The trial in Adiyaman began with 11 defendants, among whom were those responsible for the construction bungles that led to the death of 72 individuals, including 24 children and their guardians from Northern Cyprus.
4. The earthquake, which occurred a year ago, was one of the worst disasters in Turkey's history, with over 50,000 lives lost, and many more accused of construction bungles, as seen in the first major trial.

Source: www.ntv.de