Turkey: Warrants out for 22 over deadly Izmir quake

IZMIR, Turkey

Turkish prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 22 suspects over the destruction of buildings caused due to negligence in last year's earthquake in Turkey's western province of Izmir.

The warrants were issued after a preliminary report was released on the earthquake compiled by experts from the Dokuz Eylul University (DEU), the Istanbul Technical University and TUBITAK-Marmara Research Center.

The samples taken from the wreckage were analyzed by three experts from the DEU and it was concluded that the reason for the collapse of buildings was the use of substandard materials and design errors.

The prosecutors also formed a 4-person expert committee from the Istanbul Technical University. Their final report will be released soon.

Another report compiled after geophysical measurements taken by the TUBITAK-Marmara Research Center was sent to the prosecutor's office.

Thirteen suspects have been arrested by police.

It was stated that legal action will be taken against 17 public officials named in the report.

At least 117 people died in a powerful earthquake in Izmir on Oct. 30, 2020.

Turkey is among the world's most seismically active zones, and has suffered devastating earthquakes in the past, including the magnitude 7.6 Marmara quake in 1999.