Buildings Under An Earthquake in Turkey

The earthquake killed more than 33,000 people in Turkey and Syria, according to the latest figures released by the governments and disaster relief agencies in both countries. According to public data, the quake caused more than 6,000 buildings to collapse. Turkey is also stepping up efforts to crack down on quake-related crime as it prepares for relief efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake. Turkey's Justice Ministry announced Monday that it will open "earthquake crime investigation offices" in 10 provinces affected by the earthquake to investigate shoddy buildings that collapsed during the earthquake and to hold those responsible legally accountable, including contractors and engineers.

Turkish Vice President Mehmet Oktai said Wednesday that responsibility has been established for 131 suspects in connection with the destroyed buildings, one of whom has been arrested, and arrest warrants have been issued for 113 others. Meanwhile, Turkish security forces on Wednesday arrested at least 98 people suspected of looting and defrauding victims of the disaster.

Notably, several Turkish industry experts noted that building codes in earthquake zones in southeastern Turkey are often not followed, leaving many construction projects significantly less earthquake-proof. A government policy of paying fines and receiving amnesty until 2018 saved some 6 million non-compliant buildings from rectification.

A powerful earthquake struck southern Turkey near the Syrian border on May 6, causing the collapse of more than 6,000 buildings, according to public data. The quake has killed more than 33,000 people in Turkey and Syria, according to government and disaster relief agencies in both countries.

The death toll from Turkey's earthquake has risen to 29,605, according to new figures released by Turkey's emergency Disaster Management Agency on Monday.

"There are 32,071 search and rescue teams that continue to work," Oktai said. In the 10 provinces in the southeast affected by the earthquake, prosecutors have set up earthquake crime investigation departments under the instructions of the Ministry of Justice, "the ministry said. He noted that responsibility has been established for 131 suspects in buildings that collapsed during the quake, with one person arrested and arrest warrants issued for 113 others.

On Feb. 11, during a visit to Diyarbakir province, Erdogan promised to push ahead with a massive reconstruction project that would build hundreds of thousands of earthquake-safe buildings within a year,

"We will not let any of our citizens - alive or dead - be buried under the rubble. We will quickly begin debris removal and reconstruction activities." "We are making plans to rebuild hundreds of thousands of houses, buildings and infrastructure, or rather, the cities that were destroyed in the earthquake," Mr. Erdogan said. He added that "construction and restoration work will be completed within a year".