'Calming the Angry Public'?…Mass Arrests of Substandard Construction Contractors in Turkey

Over 100 Construction Workers Detained in 10 Earthquake-Affected States
First Action Since Launch of 'Earthquake Crime Investigation Unit'

As the death toll from the earthquake in T?rkiye surpassed 25,000, public anger over the government's delayed rescue efforts has intensified, leading Turkish authorities to arrest a large number of construction contractors responsible for buildings that collapsed in the earthquake.

On the 11th (local time), foreign media including the New York Times (NYT), CNN, and Bloomberg, citing T?rkiye's state-run Anadolu Agency, reported that over 100 construction contractors from 10 provinces affected by the earthquake have been detained on charges of shoddy construction. The arrests followed instructions from the Turkish Ministry of Justice to local authorities in these regions to establish "earthquake crime investigation units." The Ministry also ordered investigations into whether the collapsed buildings violated seismic regulations implemented after the major earthquake in 1999, and to hold the related contractors and managers legally accountable.

On the 6th (local time), the city center of Hatay in southern Turkey was reduced to ruins by an earthquake.
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

Regarding this, the NYT stated, "This is the first action taken by the Turkish government to identify and punish those who may be responsible for the deaths caused by this earthquake."

Among the arrested contractors was Mehmet Yasar Koshkun, the builder of the luxurious apartment complex 'R?nesans Residence' in Hatay Province. This apartment complex, consisting of 250 units in a 12-story building, completely collapsed, resulting in at least dozens of deaths and earning the notorious nickname "Residence of Death." Koshkun was caught at Istanbul Airport while attempting to flee to Montenegro. He claimed to prosecutors that the apartment had undergone proper legal permits and inspection procedures by provincial authorities, and his lawyer stated that he was detained due to public outrage.

Two others, including Hasan Alpargun, the owner of a collapsed building in Adana City, fled T?rkiye immediately after the earthquake to Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, where they were arrested. Additionally, the contractor of a collapsed apartment complex near the epicenter in Gaziantep was detained on charges of negligent homicide and violation of public construction laws. A government official who inadequately inspected the collapsed apartments in Gaziantep was also arrested.

After the devastating northwestern earthquake in 1999 that claimed 17,000 lives, T?rkiye significantly strengthened seismic regulations. However, according to local testimonies, contractors often resorted to shortcuts to save costs and increase profits by using low-quality concrete or rebar. These substandard buildings easily collapsed during this earthquake, greatly increasing the human toll.

On the afternoon of the 10th (local time), a view of the city of Antakya, Hatay, Turkey.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), more than 12,000 buildings in T?rkiye alone collapsed or suffered severe damage due to the earthquake on the 6th.

A resident of the Saraykınt district in Antakya Province, observing the rubble of a 14-story apartment building housing about 90 households, told the NYT, "The concrete is like sand. It was built too quickly."

Mesut Koparal, a car dealer who lost his mother in the earthquake, expressed anger toward the government for allowing shoddy construction. He raised his voice saying, "The state must take responsibility for this earthquake." He added, "The state chases you down if you owe a little debt, but they don't check the buildings. I'm neither an engineer nor a contractor, so how am I supposed to know if the construction was substandard?"

In addition to poor construction, there are also criticisms that the Turkish government repeatedly granted amnesty measures, exempting illegal and substandard buildings from fines and administrative penalties on a regular basis, which has been pointed out as another problem.