The trial of eleven people accused of the hotel collapse that killed 72 people in the earthquake that rocked Turkey in February 2023 and killed more than 70,000 people began this Wednesday in the Turkish city of Adiyaman.
According to Spanish news agency EFE, it is believed that the outcome of the trial could set a precedent for many other cases where buildings have succumbed to tremors due to flaws in their design.
Amid tight security, the first hearing in the case began with the identification of the accused, including the hotel owner, in the court of Adiyaman, the capital of the province of the same name, which was hit by two earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported on February 6.
Accompanied by a delegation of about 100 people, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ünal Yüstel, as well as family members of the victims of the hotel collapse, are present at the court hearing.
Those killed in the collapse of the four-star Isias Hotel included 26 children from two school volleyball teams in Northern Cyprus, as well as a group of Turkish Cypriot guides undergoing training.
“The case is very important to us,” Ustel said before entering the court and ensuring that he, and the delegation accompanying him, would remain in Adiyaman until the end of the trial.
“We trust the Supreme Court of the Turkish Republic,” he added, as quoted by Anadolu.
Five of the 11 defendants, including the hotel owner and the architect, are in custody.
Because of huge flaws experts found in the planning and construction of the building, Turkish prosecutors accuse them of causing the deaths of 72 people through negligence – a crime for which they could be sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. .
The victims’ families are asking that they be tried for “alleged intent” to kill. The defendants plead not guilty.
More than 35,000 buildings completely collapsed and tens of thousands of others suffered severe damage on February 6, according to an official report.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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