On January 3, a trial began in Turkey over the collapse of the Isias hotel in Adiyaman as a result of the earthquake on February 6, 2023, which claimed the lives of 72 people. Special attention is being paid to this case in Northern Cyprus in connection with the death of 35 Cypriot athletes and teachers of the tour.
The case is being considered in the Third Higher Criminal Court of Adiyaman from January 3 to 5. The first meeting began at 09:00 (08:00 Cyprus time). 11 defendants were brought before the court, five of whom are in custody. They are accused of "causing death and bodily harm to more than one person through willful negligence." The prosecution demands for the defendants from 2 years, 8 months to 22 years and 6 months in prison.
This case attracts the attention of TRNC Prime Minister Yunal Justel and a large delegation from Northern Cyprus, including the families of the dead children, who are seeking justice.
Recall that as a result of the devastating earthquake on February 6, more than 70,000 people died, including members of the children's volleyball team from Famagusta and their parents – a total of 35 people. The Council of Ministers of the TRNC made a historic decision, recognizing the entire team as martyrs and calling them Champion Angels.
As a result, the "Association for the Survival of Champion Angels" was created, streets in the cities of TRNC were renamed in their honor, construction of an indoor sports hall in memory of the dead volleyball players and coaches at the Fazyl Kucuk stadium was started, as well as the construction of mausoleums of Champion Angels in six villages of TRNC was launched.
The earthquake in Turkey in February 2023 revealed terrible violations during the construction of the Isias Hotel in Adiyaman. This has become a terrifying example of problems with the quality of construction in a country where corruption and economic interests affect the safety of citizens.
News of the incident spreads quickly, and details are emerging. The investigation revealed terrible violations during construction in an earthquake-prone area: poor concrete quality, insufficient reinforcement thickness and other serious violations of standards. The hotel, originally designed as a residential one, was converted into a hotel without proper permission, and the 10th floor was completed. The results of the investigation led to the arrest of five people, including hotel managers and project managers. This is a terrible illustration of the problems with the quality of construction in a country where corruption and the desire to save money affect safety. Experts express concern about other similar cases and warn of possible future earthquakes that could lead to new tragedies. Recent forecasts of upcoming earthquakes in Turkey are of serious concern, including the threat of a powerful earthquake in Istanbul. It is a reminder of the importance of safety and disaster preparedness.
