ISTANBUL: Turkiye has sentenced Hasan Alpargun to 865 years in prison for his role in the construction of a building that collapsed during a devastating earthquake in February 2023, which claimed 96 lives.
The 14-storey apartment block in Adana crumbled during the 7.8-magnitude quake that resulted in over 53,500 deaths in Turkiye and nearly 6,000 in neighboring Syria. Only one resident survived the collapse.
Built in 1975, the structure’s failure raised immediate suspicions, especially since Adana, located less than 200 kilometers from the quake’s epicenter, largely avoided severe tremors. Alpargun was convicted of “having caused the death and injury of more than one person with possible intent,” according to state-run Anadolu news agency.
Reports indicate that he fled to Turkish-backed Northern Cyprus on the day of the earthquake but turned himself in to police a week later. During the trial, experts highlighted significant deficiencies in the building’s support columns and the quality of concrete used. Alpargun defended his actions, claiming that the construction had received official approval.
Following the earthquake, more than 260 individuals associated with the construction of buildings that collapsed were arrested, with some attempting to flee Turkiye. Trials for several of these individuals have begun this year.
