Prison facility faces risk of collapse in earthquake
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Milliyet
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 12, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - A high-security prison in the southeastern city of Van is in danger of collapsing in the event of an earthquake, read a report prepared by Parliament’s Human Rights Commission.
The commission sent a team to the city to inspect category M and F high-security prisons and stated that the infrastructure of the M-type facility would not be able to withstand an earthquake. The commission warned that the lives of 716 prisoners were at risk and said the optimum way to act was to empty the building, which is beyond repair.
The report also mentioned that the Justice Ministry was notified of the risk posed by the building back in 2007. "The Justice Ministry had asked for a preliminary examination to determine the building’s resistance to earthquakes.
In the report written after the examination, it was indicated that, since the building was erected before 1998, it does not conform to earthquake safety measures and is in need of immediate reinforcement," the report stated.
The report stated the weakness of the support columns was detectable just by touching them and the continued use of the building posed a serious threat to the lives of all inside.
The report also mentioned that the Justice Ministry was notified of the risk posed by the building back in 2007. "The Justice Ministry had asked for a preliminary examination to determine the building’s resistance to earthquakes.
In the report written after the examination, it was indicated that, since the building was erected before 1998, it does not conform to earthquake safety measures and is in need of immediate reinforcement," the report stated.
The report stated the weakness of the support columns was detectable just by touching them and the continued use of the building posed a serious threat to the lives of all inside.