Turkey earthquake: 113 construction-related arrest warrants

(BBC) ⸻ 113 arrest warrants have been issued in connection with the construction of buildings that collapsed in Monday's earthquake, and unrest in southern Turkey has disrupted rescue efforts. The number of people confirmed to have died in Turkey and Syria has risen to 33,000, and more arrests are expected. Experts have warned that many new buildings in Turkey were unsafe due to endemic corruption and government policies. President Erdogan has admitted shortcomings in the response, but has blamed fate. The situation is growing more desperate, with German rescuers and the Austrian army paused search operations due to clashes between unnamed groups in Hatay province. Security is expected to worsen as food supplies dwindle. The UN has warned that more than 800,000 people are without adequate meals and the final death toll from the quake is likely to double. The search for survivors has resumed under the protection of the Turkish army, but hope of finding many more survivors is fading. The quake was described as the "worst event in 100 years" by the UN aid chief, Martin Griffiths, and the border crossing between Turkey and Armenia reopened for the first time in 35 years.