Turkey earthquake building collapse trials target municipal officials

Legal proceedings are advancing in Turkey regarding the collapse of apartment buildings during the February 6 earthquakes. In Diyarbakır, prosecutors have requested 22 years and 6 months of imprisonment for three former municipal officials involved in the Serin-2 Apartment case. Investigations revealed the 11-story building lacked an ‘imar barışı’ (zoning peace) record and failed to meet 1998 disaster zone regulations. Technical reports from Middle East Technical University and Ankara University indicated that structural columns had been cut and concrete samples fell significantly below required standards.

In Adıyaman, the trial concerning the Zümrüt Apartment, which resulted in 25 deaths, faces delays. Families of the victims have called upon Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, noting that they have been waiting for an expert report for one year and ten months. The case involves multiple defendants, including contractors, architects, and former municipal officials, including former mayors and zoning directors, all facing charges of causing death and injury through conscious negligence.