Developer of tower collapsed in earthquake arrested fleeing Turkey

MISE À DAY

The developer of a 12-storey tower, which collapsed in the earthquake that killed more than 19,000 people in Turkey, has been arrested as he tried to leave the country, reports the Turkish state agency Anadolu.

800 people are believed to be under the rubble of the Rönesans residence, built wide to contain 250 apartments in Hatay, in the south-east of the country.

The promoter was arrested at Istanbul airport while trying to leave the country for Montenegro, with a large sum of money on him.

The luxury residence he presented on social networks as “a corner of paradise” has completely collapsed.

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Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu who plays for Hatayspor, as well as the team's sporting director Taner Savut, are believed to be under the rubble of this residence, according to Turkish media.

Footballer Christian Atsu

Rescue teams are still working at the site in an attempt to locate survivors.

The responsibility of certain manufacturers, who would have used poor quality materials or who would not have respected the standards, has been denounced since Monday in the Turkish media. 

According to the private television channel NTV, the first legal complaint was filed on Friday in Diyarbakir (southeast) and others are beginning to follow.

“Investigations into the collapsed buildings are in class. Those responsible will be named and will be held to account in court,” Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag warned on Friday.