Turkey detains building contractors as quake death toll passes 33,000

Turkey probes contractors as earthquake deaths pass 33,000

ANTAKYA, Turkey — Turkish authorities are targeting contractors allegedly linked with buildings that collapsed in the powerful Feb. 6 earthquakes as rescuers found more survivors in the rubble Sunday, including a pregnant woman and two children, in the disaster that killed over 33,000 people.

Turkey detains building contractors as quake deaths pass 33K

As the death toll continued to climb, shock has turned to outrage at government officials for the rescue effort's speed and lack of preparations beforehand.

Turkey detains building contractors as quake deaths pass 33K

Despair also bred rage at the agonizingly slow rescue efforts as the focus turned to who was to blame for not better preparing people in the earthquake-prone region.

Turkey detains building contractors as quake deaths pass 33K

As the death toll continued to climb, shock has turned to outrage at government officials for the rescue effort's speed and lack of preparations beforehand.

Turkey to investigate building contractors as earthquake toll crosses 33,000

The toll due to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria rose to 33,185 on Sunday, the Associated Press reported.The 7.8-magnitude earthquake had hit close to the Turkish city of Gaziantep early on February 6. It was followed by another earthquake of 7.5 magnitude and several aftershocks, causing widespread destruction. On Sunday, Turkish justice officials identified 131 suspects linked with construction of buildings that collapsed during the earthqu…

Syria's Assad requests UN help as total quake deaths surpass 35,000

The rescue phase following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria on February 6 is "coming to a close" with urgency now switching to prov