Turkey's earthquake was an act of nature — but murderous corruption caused so many deaths

Corner-cutting contractors sold buildings as safe that then collapsed. But just as culpable are officials who offered permits and lax controls, writes Constanze Letsch

Turkish earthquake survivors look at a collapsed building in the town of Cay, near the central Turkish city of Afyon. Picture: AP Photo/Salih Ozkilinc/DHA

The death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has now surpassed 37,000. Tens of thousands of people are still missing, and social media feeds are awash with examples of newly built residential complexes that have collapsed like sandcastles, burying occupants under the rubble. 

Many of these buildings were sold as luxury housing “compliant with the latest earthquake safety standards”.