A Turkish court on Friday handed down a prison sentence of 865 years and 62 life sentences to a man behind the construction of a building that collapsed on February 6 2023, killing 96 when two powerful earthquakes hit Turkey, Agence France-Presse reported, citing local media.
The 14-story apartment block in the southern Turkish city of Adana was destroyed by the first massive quake, measuring 7.8 in magnitude. The second earthquake, which struck several hours after the first one, had a magnitude of 7.5.
The earthquakes killed more than 53,500 people in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in neighboring Syria.
Only one of the collapsed building’s residents survived.
Built in 1975, the building’s collapse immediately aroused suspicions since Adana, located less than 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the earthquake’s epicenter, was largely spared from the violent tremors.
Hasan Alpargün was convicted on Friday of “having caused the death and injury of more than one person with possible intent,” according to the official Anadolu news agency.
Alpargün is reported to have fled to northern Cyprus on the day of the quakes before turning himself in to police a week later.
During the trial experts pointed to serious deficiencies in the construction of the building’s support columns as well as the quality of concrete used.
Alpargün defended himself by stating that the construction was approved by the authorities.
More than 260 people involved in the construction of buildings that collapsed during the February 2023 earthquakes were arrested in the aftermath, some while trying to flee Turkey.
The trials of several of these people have begun this year.