Police chief detained for stealing earthquake aid

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A police chief was detained on Saturday (March 4) after he was found to have stolen aid materials intended for earthquake survivors.

The officer identified with the initials Y.I. was dispatched to Islahiye, Antep, where about 80 percent of the buildings collapsed in the powerful earthquakes on February 6.

After the end of his duty, he returned to Tekirdağ, northwestern Türkiye, in a police bus. After his arrival, it was found that he had brought some aid materials with him.

The officer was detained upon a tip-off. Later, during a search of his home, the police found a power generator, two large tents, five electric cables, nine air mattresses, five sleeping bags, five travel bags, seven beanies, two pairs of boots, two raincoats, four small tents, 15 kilos of dog food, three electric heaters and a water heater.

After his detention, Y.I. was referred to the prosecutor's office, which demanded his arrest. The court released the officer upon judicial control measures. The prosecutor's office appealed the decision.

More arrests related to the quakes

Meanwhile, the number of arrests related to last month's quakes rose to 247. Among them are 93 contractors, 123 building inspectors, 13 building owners and 18 people who allegedly made illegal alterations to buildings.

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, where over 5,000 people were killed.

Türkiye's official death toll from the quakes stands at over 45,000 and is expected to increase further, as over 227,000 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, according to government figures.

Nearly two million people have been displaced due to the earthquakes. (RT/VK)