Arrests over Türkiye earthquakes rise to 203

The investigations into the collapsed buildings and incidents of theft after the quakes continue.

İstanbul

Arrests over Türkiye earthquakes rise to 203

Photo: AA

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The number of arrests in investigations into buildings that collapsed in the February 6 earthquakes has risen to 203, while nine people are in custody.

Chief public prosecutors have identified 797 people responsible for the collapsing of or illegal alterations in buildings, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

In addition to the arrests, judicial control measures have been imposed on 275 suspects. Prosecutors have issued arrest warrants against 152 suspects and ordered the detention of 67 others.

The authorities have found that 19 of the suspects have died.

Also, the authorities have identified 312 suspects connected to 383 incidents of theft in the quake-hit region. Among those, 201 have been arrested and judicial control measures have been imposed on 37 others.

Ten theft suspects have been released from detention while 13 are in custody.

The earthquakes

On February 6, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 and 7.6 struck the southern city of Maraş. The first quake in the Pazarcık district at 4.17 a.m. was followed by the second one in Elbistan about nine hours later.

The quakes affected 11 cities in Türkiye's south and southeast, as well as Syria's northern parts.

The official death toll from the quakes stands at over 45,000 and is expected to increase further, as over 160,000 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, according to government figures.

Nearly two million people have been displaced due to the earthquakes.

(AS/VK)