The Cost of Code Waivers

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6 left more than 50,000 people dead. The sight of rescuers combing the rubble has prompted questions about why so many buildings seemed so inadequate to resist the shaking earth.

In Turkey, the government has turned the focus onto builders and property developers, accusing them of chasing profit over safety. But the reality is far more complicated.

Guest: Ben Hubbard, the Istanbul bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• Some in Turkey wonder whether the number of fatalities caused by the quake could have been cut significantly with better building standards.
• As the death toll rose, the Turkish government came under growing criticism.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

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