Turkey has arrested 43 people for social media posts that allegedly created ‘fear and panic’ after last month’s devastating earthquakes, as well as 279 people suspected of flouting building regulations.
Over 300 people have been arrested in a continuing crackdown by Turkish police and prosecutor’s offices on “provocative” social media posts and construction wrongdoings after the devastating earthquakes of February 6 killed over 48,000 people in the country.
Turkish police said on Twitter on Monday that 1,165 social media account holders had been “evaluated for making provocative posts about earthquakes on social media platforms in order to create fear and panic”.
Legal proceedings were initiated against 730 of them, 179 were brought to police stations and 43 were arrested, police said.
Prosecutors are investigating more than 1,000 individuals on suspicion that they ignored building laws and regulations to devastating effect when the earthquakes struck and buildings collapsed.
Demiroren News Agency, DHA reported on Monday that so far, 279 people including 99 builders, 149 site managers, 13 construction site owners and 18 people who made alterations to constructions have been arrested.
Millions were left without homes in Turkey’s 11 southern and south-eastern provinces when they were devastated by twin earthquakes registering 7.9 and 7.7 on the Richter scale.
Search and rescue missions have been halted, but the removal of debris continues and dead bodies are still being brought from the rubble. It is believed that there are still thousands of bodies still missing.
In the earthquake zone, which was home to nearly 15 million people, more than two million people migrated to western towns and cities and millions continue to live outside in tent camps and prefabricated houses.
Many town and cities still have difficulties with clean water, electricity, food and heating.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu urged the public to continue donating and supporting humanitarian aid campaigns for the survivors.
“We are asking for support from our citizens, benefactors and donors,” Soylu told reporters on Sunday during his visit to the affected area, stressing the continuing need for food and clothing supplies.