The first criminal trial related to the 2023 earthquake in Turkey has commenced, focusing on the collapse of a hotel in Adiyaman where 72 people died, including a school volleyball team and tourist guides, BBC reports.
Eleven individuals are charged with violating construction rules. The indictment reveals that the Isias Grand hotel, a seven-story structure, had mixed the building materials with gravel and sand from the local river and added additional floors without proper permits.
Families of the victims are calling for severe sentences for the accused and want charges against Turkish officials who licensed the hotel. If convicted, the defendants could face prison terms ranging from two years and eight months to over 22 years.
The earthquake in February 2023 resulted in over 50,000 deaths and the collapse or severe damage of 160,000 buildings, rendering 1.5 million people homeless.
