Negligent construction at Isias Hotel where 65 people died in the earthquake

Negligent construction at Isias Hotel where 65 people died in the earthquake
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The first reports on Adiyaman’s Grand Isias Hotel, which was reopened despite failing building inspections and which caused the death of 65 people, show that the concrete was low-quality, and stream gravel and sand were used.

Arti Gercek reports that an investigative report has been published on the wreckage of the Adiyaman’s Grand Isias Hotel, where 30 guides and 35 students, teachers, and parents from Cyprus died. "The debris found in the building area was closely examined and it was determined that the concrete quality was obviously low, and that stream gravel and sand were used," the report reads.

According to the newspaper Cumhuriyet, the eastern Mediterranean University Civil Engineering Department has published a preliminary investigation report on Isias Hotel. EMU Civil Engineering Department faculty members Prof. Dr. Serhan Sensoy, Prof. Dr. Ozgur Eren, Prof. Dr. Umut Turker, Assoc. Dr. Eris Uygar and Assoc. Dr. Mehmet C. Genes prepared a seven-page report.

THE CASE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UNDER A CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER

Assoc. Dr. Mehmet C. Genes visited the Adiyaman Courthouse after his study of the wreckage area and met with the public prosecutor, K.K., conducting the investigation of the Isias Hotel. The prosecutor stated that an investigation had been started, that the experts had conducted all the necessary examinations and analyses, and that six concrete and reinforcement samples were taken. The report also noted that a confidentiality order had been brought to the case.

CONCRETE QUALITY IS CLEARLY LOW

The report reads, "The reason for the collapse of this structure is not the magnitude of the earthquake, but the faulty design and/or construction." The following statements were included in the report, which mentions that “The debris found in the building area was closely examined and it was determined that the concrete quality was obviously low, and that stream gravel and sand were used:”

“Looking at the size of the stream pebbles, we determined that they are often larger than the maximum grain size suitable to use in concrete for such structures, the granulometry in the distribution of gravel and sand in the concrete is not good, and it easily falls apart when inspected by hand.”

“FOUNDATION AND COLUMNS ARE DESIGNED ACCORDING TO FIVE FLOOR”

The report says, “We conclude that the construction of the building in question, whose foundation and columns were designed and built according to 5 floors, was done incorrectly. We conclude that it was a serious mistake to increase the number of floors and that the building was at risk for collapse even in the lowest-magnitude earthquakes.”