Justice Served: Sentencing in Isias Hotel Collapse Due to 2023 Turkey Earthquake

A Turkish court has handed down prison sentences to individuals linked to the Isias Grand hotel collapse, underlining accountability in a disaster that struck in February 2023.

In a landmark ruling, a Turkish court has sentenced the owner of the Isias Grand hotel, Ahmet Bozkurt, and architect Erdem Yilmaz to 18 years and five months in prison following their roles in the collapse of the building during a devastating earthquake in February 2023. The charges pertained to "causing the death or injury of more than one person through conscious negligence," according to the Anadolu news agency. Bozkurt’s son, Mehmet Fatih, was also sentenced to 17 years and four months.

The tragic event took place when a school volleyball team from northern Cyprus, alongside several tourist guides, gathered at the hotel during the quake. Of the group of 39 people, only four parents survived by digging themselves out of the debris. The earthquake claimed over 72 lives in the hotel and left devastating impacts across Turkey and Syria, with casualty figures exceeding 50,000 and thousands of buildings either destroyed or significantly damaged.

The Isias Grand hotel, a longtime fixture in the southeastern city of Adiyaman, had been operational since 2001. Following the quake, scrutiny emerged over the quality of construction, particularly as investigations revealed that inferior materials, such as river sand and gravel, were improperly utilized in building the foundational columns. This incident has intensified criticism regarding the Turkish government’s regulatory oversight in the construction sector, especially given the economic stimulus that had led to a construction boom prior to the earthquake.

Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel expressed dissatisfaction with the sentences, deeming them insufficient, and announced intentions to appeal. Ustel emphasized, however, that while the outcome did not meet expectations, it was significant that accountability was established for those involved in the hotel’s construction.

As the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the earthquake, ongoing investigations have led to the arrest of nearly 200 individuals, including construction operators and property owners, amid calls for stricter enforcement of building safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.