A Turkish court has sentenced a man to 865 years in prison for his role in constructing a building that collapsed during the devastating February 2023 earthquake, which claimed 96 lives, according to state media reports.
The 14-storey apartment block in Adana, southern Turkey, was obliterated by the 7.8-magnitude quake that resulted in over 53,500 deaths in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in Syria. Among the building’s residents, only one person survived.
Constructed in 1975, the collapse raised alarms, especially since much of Adana—located roughly 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the earthquake’s epicenter—had largely escaped the worst tremors.
Hasan Alpargun, the builder, was convicted of “causing death and injury to multiple people with possible intent,” as reported by the state-run Anadolu news agency.
On the day of the disaster, Alpargun fled to Turkish-backed Northern Cyprus but surrendered to police a week later.
During the trial, experts pointed out significant flaws in the building’s structural columns and the substandard quality of the concrete used. Alpargun contended that the construction was approved by local authorities.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, over 260 individuals associated with the construction of collapsed buildings were arrested, with some attempting to flee Turkey. Trials for several of these individuals have commenced this year.
[News Central]
