The earthquake in the Syrian-Turkish border area killed more than 25,000 people – but the high number of victims is not only due to the natural disaster. Cheap concrete, inferior steel and tampering had caused countless buildings to collapse like houses of cards in the very first earthquake. Now there were the first arrests in Turkey.
At least 14 people were arrested in southern Turkey on Saturday for alleged negligence. An arrest warrant had also been issued for 33 people in the city of Diyarbakir, the state news agency Anadolu reported, citing prosecutors. They must be responsible for any structural damage that contributed to the building’s collapse, such as the removal of concrete pillars.
Suspect tried to follow
One of the suspects was reportedly arrested at Istanbul airport. He allegedly tried to flee to Montenegro with cash. Nine other suspects were arrested in the towns of Sanliurfa and Osmaniye.
But looters were also arrested. According to the authorities, 48 people were arrested on Saturday evening, 42 of them in Hatay province alone. Large sums of money, jewellery, bank cards, computers, mobile phones and weapons were allegedly found with them. A decree published on Saturday allows authorities to detain suspected looters for seven days instead of four.
The death toll continues to rise
Meanwhile, the death toll from the earthquake continues to rise. 22,327 people have died in the affected areas of Turkey alone, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Saturday. At least 80,278 people were injured. 3,553 fatalities were reported in Syria. Many people are still missing under the rubble.
According to Turkey, about 24.4 million people were affected by the earthquake. Vice President Fuad Oktay said more than a million people were homeless and housed in emergency shelters. According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hundreds of thousands of buildings are no longer habitable. Nearly 93,000 people were removed from earthquake zones. The German government announced on Saturday that it intends to issue unbureaucratic visas to those affected so that they can find shelter with relatives in Germany.
More than 8000 helpers from 68 countries
Turkey is receiving support from more than 8,000 foreign aid workers to deal with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. A total of 8,513 aid workers are deployed in the affected areas, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara reported on Twitter on Saturday. Emergency services from 68 countries are in the country. In all, 99 different countries offered support, it said. Austrian helpers are also deployed, including 82 Bundesheer soldiers.
Civil war in Syria hinders aid delivery
In Syria, the aid mission is particularly difficult. The country has been embroiled in civil war for nearly twelve years. The earthquake disaster area includes parts of the country controlled by the government, as well as rebel areas. A United Nations first aid convoy arrived in northern Syria on Friday. There, 90 percent of the population depends on humanitarian aid.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
