Turkish Officials Charged Over Deadly "Palm" Apartment Collapse

Prosecutors have filed a criminal case against three municipal officials in the aftermath of a deadly apartment collapse in the February 6 earthquakes. The officials are accused of "causing death and injury by conscious negligence." The charges relate to their roles in the construction and renovation processes of the "Palmiye Sitesi" (Palm Residence) in Kahramanmaraş. The residential complex completely collapsed during the major earthquakes that struck southern Turkey. A total of 152 people died in the building. The case represents a significant legal step. It focuses on the potential failure of public duty in approving the safety of the building. An investigation into the contractors and technical personnel responsible for the original construction is ongoing. Turkey's devastating earthquakes last February killed more than 50,000 people. The disaster triggered a national reckoning over flawed construction and poor enforcement of building safety codes.