Iran Press/ Asia: Turkish authorities said earlier this month that they had launched an investigation into contractors allegedly linked to the deadly collapse of buildings.
Turkish authorities have said that more than 173,000 buildings across the country have collapsed or have been severely damaged.
The total death toll from the earthquakes across Turkey and Syria has surpassed 50,000.
Contractors, building owners, and managers are among those arrested, according to the Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag.
A total of 612 "suspects" are under investigation, he added.
“The detection of evidence in the buildings continues as a basis for criminal investigation,” Bozdag added, AP reported.
While Turkey's construction codes do meet current earthquake-engineering standards, they are rarely enforced, helping explain why so many buildings collapsed, AP previously reported.
211
Related News:
Turkyie, Syria earthquakes deaths climb above 50,000
Hatay, most damaged area in Türkiye earthquake
