After the tragedy that struck Turkey, information about violations in construction and building safety regulations is gradually coming to light, and in a Gaziantep apartment complex it was clear that the buildings were not safe even before the quake, the BBC has investigated.
At a partially collapsed high-rise residential complex, residents are still waiting for news of loved ones, and victims of the earthquake are still buried under the rubble. Musician Yunus Emre, whose cousin and family have not yet been found, told the BBC that it was one of the most luxurious and expensive properties in the city. However, the price of the property meant nothing when the country was rocked by an earthquake, and Emre does not hide his anger. He says someone has to take responsibility and adds that this is not just a national tragedy. It is a national scandal.
Ayşe Mehmet Polat apartment complex was completed 24 years ago. Four of the six buildings collapsed in the earthquake. The BBC has learned that the builder of this apartment complex has been arrested.
Emel Filik, whose cousin died in his apartment, is also near the ruins of the buildings. She said that no one was going to take responsibility and there were no inspections or monitoring.
The grieving woman also told journalists that the head of the residents’ association called for action to prevent security threats six months ago.
Even then, it was clear that buildings could collapse in case of an earthquake. The BBC later contacted the head of the association and learned that the meetings had indeed taken place.
Eyüp Muhçu, head of the Turkish Association of Architects, says that the main responsibility for the safety of buildings should be taken by the government. «The priority of the central government was not to make the cities safe but to implement some projects that were solely planned for maximizing profits. For this reason, 65% of the current building stock in Turkey is risky. And no measures have been implemented regarding these risky structures.»
Continuing the search for information, the BBC met Bahattin Aşan near the ruins, who immediately after the earthquake pulled seven people from the ruins. Ashan worked as a security guard at the apartment complex and told about his observations in the buildings: «In the car park, I witnessed the defects with my own eyes. When I touched the concrete columns it would crumble to dust in my hands, as though it wasn’t concrete at all. Iron was rusting in the columns, the rainfall was damaging and corroded the iron.»
He insisted that the structural damage was clearly visible to both managers and residents of the complex.
The builder who worked with the buildings, Mehmet Akay, said that the buildings met the current regulations at the time. He pointed out that the sewerage and water supply were connected to the buildings already after their completion, and it was that, or some other works, that affected the strength of the columns supporting the buildings.
Akay was arrested on the 11th of February, five days after the first earthquake when the businessman was about to leave the country. However, he insists that his company was a co-coordinator of the construction, not a contractor. He also denies that cheap and weak materials were used in the construction.
Opposition MP Garo Paylan believes that this is widespread criminal negligence that has affected Turkey’s construction supervision system. He said:
«It’s a crime. It’s a sin.»
Paylan accuses the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of failing to secure new buildings and strengthen old ones. The deputy pointed out that scientists warned about the nearness of the disaster, but the responsible services were not prepared. He said: «They say this is destiny. No, it is not. In civilised countries these kinds of disasters happen but fewer people die. But here we have tens of thousands of people under the rubble.»
Gaziantep municipality representative Ahmet Aydın Sert told the BBC that no complaints had been received about the building complex, and therefore no inspections had been carried out. No illegalities were found in the documentation either.
Erdogan has acknowledged that rescue efforts in some areas were not quick enough, but has urged Turks not to listen to those who say the Turkish president is politicizing the tragedy. His government denies allegations of willful neglect.
Critics, on the other hand, point out that the state has a moral, if not a legal, obligation to protect its citizens, regardless of the age of the buildings. When Turks go to the polls this summer, the results will show which candidate they believe is capable of protecting citizens and homes.
Read also: Earthquake in Turkey: Death instead of recovery