The number of people confirmed to have died in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 28,000, and some say it could rise to a staggering 40,000

 Turkey and Syria death toll has risen to more than 28,000, and some say  it could rise to a staggering 40,000 or even more!

Officials in Turkey say 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed in Monday's earthquake.

Turkish police have already taken at least 12 people into custody, including building contractors.

Meanwhile, unrest in southern Turkey has disrupted rescue efforts in some places.

The number of people confirmed to have died in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 28,000, and still rising.

More arrests are expected - but the action will be seen by many as an attempt to divert overall blame for the disaster.

• The collapsed buildings that were meant to withstand earthquakes

For years, experts warned that many new buildings in Turkey were unsafe due to endemic corruption and government policies.

Those policies allowed so-called amnesties for contractors who swerved building regulations, in order to encourage a construction boom - including in earthquake-prone regions.

Thousands of buildings collapsed during the earthquake, raising questions about whether the natural disaster's impact was made worse by human failings.

FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-64615349