Investigation Reveals Violations in Isias Hotel Where 72 Died in Earthquake

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Adıyaman, Turkey prepared the indictment, seeking prison terms ranging from 2 years and 8 months to 22 years and 6 months for the 11 defendants, including 5 in custody, on charges of "causing the death and injury of more than one person by conscious negligence." The indictment includes expert reports.

The document reveals that the hotel had obtained a license as a "residence" on January 5, 1993. However, on November 8, 2001, the license was renewed as a hotel. The indictment points out that based on information and documents in the case file, an unlicensed floor was added to the structure in 2016, increasing the total number of floors from 9 to 10, with an additional area of ​​410 square meters.

The indictment states that various renovations were carried out at different times after the hotel became operational. Notably, the document emphasizes that alterations made in 2014-2015 led to an increase in the hotel's capacity. Furthermore, it points out that in 2016, an additional floor was added without proper permits, disregarding earthquake safety, and the structure's load-bearing system was burdened. Expert examinations revealed that the concrete quality of the building did not meet the necessary requirements according to regulations.

The indictment includes statements denying the allegations by the defendants, and the trial of the accused individuals is set to commence at the 3rd Heavy Penal Court in the coming days.