Criticism over lax construction standards grows 10 days after Turkey and Syria earthquake

Peter Smith:

After Turkey’s 1999 earthquake, ITV News teams uncovered evidence of shoddy building practices. Public outcry was so severe, it became a major issue in elections three years later.

President Erdogan came into power promising to make buildings safer. Strict building codes were introduced. But then, five years ago,in response to a flagging economy, the Turkish government introduced an amnesty on these rules. New developments no longer had to adhere to these strict codes, even in known earthquake zones.

The difference made by quality construction could hardly be better illustrated than this. Amid the wreckage, one building has barely a crack on the walls. It is Turkey’s union of engineers. They tell me they have been warning for years against dangerous buildings.

Sibel Bas, Turkish Chamber of Architects and Engineers: This is a manmade disaster. And local authorities, central authorities, ministries, the decision-making authorities, if they have taken a role in the wrong techniques, engineers, architects, we are all responsible.