21.10.2026 21:01
The expert report on İskenderun State Hospital, where 125 people lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes in Hatay, revealed that the building continued to be used despite a 'collapse condition' being identified in 2012, and found the institution's officials 'primarily at fault.' Celal Gezer, spokesperson for the Families Seeking Justice Platform, noted that no indictment has yet been prepared in the investigation that has been ongoing for 3 years and 8 months, and demanded that those responsible be punished.
(ANKARA) -
Celal Gezer, one of the spokespersons of the Families Seeking Justice Platform, made a statement after ANKA News Agency’s news titled “It had become a grave for 125 people in the earthquake… Those who allowed its use despite the ‘collapse condition’ finding for İskenderun State Hospital are ‘primarily at fault’”. Emphasizing that no indictment has yet been prepared regarding the matter, Gezer said, “We invite all public opinion and members of parliament to demand that those responsible receive the punishments they deserve in this incident that cost the lives of 125 people.”
The long-awaited expert report has been submitted to the investigation file that has been ongoing for 3 years and 8 months regarding İskenderun State Hospital in Hatay, where 125 people lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes.
In the report obtained by ANKA News Agency, it was stated that the hospital continued to be used despite the ‘collapse condition’ finding in 2012, and institution officials were found ‘primarily at fault’.
IN 2012, A REPORT WAS ISSUED SAYING IT WAS NOT RESISTANT TO EARTHQUAKES
Celal Gezer, one of the spokespersons of the Families Seeking Justice Platform, made a statement on the matter. Gezer recalled that reports were prepared for Block A of the hospital in 2012 saying it was ‘not resistant to earthquakes’ and in 2016 saying ‘earthquake safety was insufficient’, that demolition meetings were held in 2015, and that the Ministry of Health included the construction of a new building in its investment program in 2019.
Referring to Gazi University’s expert report, Gezer stated that İskenderun District Health Directorate, Hatay Provincial Health Directorate and the Ministry of Health of the period were found ‘primarily at fault’ in the continued use of the building despite it having been previously determined that it would collapse in an earthquake.
ONE SAID 95 PERCENT, THE OTHER ZERO FAULT
Recalling that in compensation lawsuits filed in two different administrative courts regarding the collapse of the hospital, the Ministry of Health was considered 95 percent at fault in one expert report, while it was not seen as at fault in another report, Gezer said the following:
“Now, experts and scientists may obtain different results in terms of the methods and systems they use, the research they conduct and their knowledge. However, if one attributes 95 percent fault and the other zero fault, there is a problem here. Of course, we do not accept such an assessment. We leave this disconnected assessment to the discretion of the public.
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY DISREGARDED OUR LIVES
Although this building was determined to be in a state of collapse in 2012, it was razed to the ground in 2023 and 125 people lost their lives. This building continued to be used for 11 years from 2012 to 2023. As a result, 125 people lost their lives. There is still no indictment regarding this building, still no hearing, and no responsible person has been held accountable. This is a public building, this is a hospital. The public authority disregarded our lives in this matter. It disregarded the lives of its own employees there, the patients who came and the patients’ relatives. For 11 years, it made a decision to use a building whose state of collapse had been reported and continued to use it. The Ministry of Health also made its decision on this matter. By including it in its investment plans, it decided to build it later. They probably think, ‘Let there be an earthquake, let it collapse by itself, then we’ll build it’. That is what happened. 125 people lost their lives. This is the situation of İskenderun State Hospital. We invite all public opinion, members of parliament and all our sensible citizens to publicize this matter and to demand that those responsible receive the punishments they deserve in this incident that cost the lives of 125 people.”