Seven released in investigation into Diyarbakır residential complex where 89 died in quakes

Click to read the article in Turkish

A night court has released yesterday evening seven of the suspects arrested in the investigation into the Galeria residential complex where 89 people lost their lives in Diyarbakır in the Maraş centered February 6 earthquakes.

The investigation started by the Diyarbakır chief prosecutor's office in order to identify negligence related to the buildings that collapsed in the earthquake is being carried out by one deputy chief prosecutor and three prosecutors. 

"Evidence has been collected"

The lawyers of seven of the arrested suspects applied to the 2nd Court of Peace on duty requesting that their clients be released.

The night court has judged, taking into consideration the amount of time that the suspects have been arrested so far, and that the evidence has been collected, that suspects B.Y., E.T., M.T., M.A.Ö., N.Y., R.Ş. and S.Ö. should be released.

Four contractors are still arrested in the scope of the investigation. 

What happened?

One of the four blocks of the Galeria Residential Complex in Yenişehir, Diyarbakır, the first four floors of which was a shopping mall, and the remaining 8 floors a residence with 128 flats, collapsed in the first quake on February 6. 

89 people lost their lives and 22 were injured as a result in this residence built in 1999. The remaining three blocks were demolished after the earthquakes. (AS/PE)