As search and rescue efforts continue in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, Turkish officials announced that 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the collapse of buildings that were meant to withstand such natural disasters. At least 12 people, including building contractors, have already been taken into custody. Despite the arrests, many see this as an attempt to divert blame from the widespread safety concerns in the construction industry, which experts have warned about for years.
Unrest in the affected areas has also disrupted rescue operations, with German and Austrian rescue teams temporarily pausing their efforts due to clashes between unnamed groups in Hatay province. The search for survivors resumed under the protection of the Turkish army.
As the situation grows more desperate, the UN warned that more than 800,000 people are without adequate meals, and temperatures continue to drop below freezing at night. The final death toll is expected to double, with over 33,000 confirmed fatalities in Turkey and Syria. The earthquake has been described as the "worst event in 100 years in this region" by the UN aid chief.
Despite fading hope of finding more survivors, some incredible rescues have taken place, including a family of five in Gaziantep province and a seven-year-old girl in Hatay who spent 132 hours under the rubble. The UN has called for regional politics to be put aside in the face of the disaster, and there are signs that this is happening, with the border crossing between Turkey and Armenia reopening for the first time in 35 years to allow aid to reach those in need.