The recent earthquakes that hit Turkey collapsed a large number of buildings including the newest ones and many lives were lost, this incident has raised questions by many entities and sparked anger, including BBC which started an investigation into some buildings and the construction companies that executed the projects.

Turkey developed “earthquake regulations” in the last semi-century as its geography is not immune to earthquakes. However, these regulations require constant updates. This process began in the 1960s and the most recent update on these regulations was in 2018. On the other hand, it has developed amnesties in the form of paying a fee as a legal exemption which has helped many construction companies to take advantage. Turkish critics have warned that these amnesties will cause major catastrophes in the future in case a strong earthquake occurred.

Pelin Pınar Giritlioğlu, Istanbul head of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects' Chamber of City Planners, stated that up to 75,000 buildings across the affected earthquake zone in southern Turkey have been given construction amnesties.

Just days before the earthquakes, Turkish media reported that a new draft law awaits parliamentary approval that would give amnesty for recent construction projects, which was acknowledged by a geologist as a crime.

This shows that Turkish construction companies did not follow these regulations as required and did not use quality materials, in addition to taking advantage of the amnesties that saved them an effort and made financial gains for the government.