Critical Expert Report in Isias Hotel Case: All Defendants Found Negligent

The lawyers representing the families of the “Champion Angels” described the report as substantial evidence that the hotel was not earthquake-resistant.

Key Findings of the Expert Report

The report details structural flaws, construction deficiencies, and oversight failures that contributed to the collapse:

• Collapse Cause: The building did not collapse sideways, as claimed by the defendants, but towards Atatürk Boulevard. This failure was attributed to construction and structural issues.

• Earthquake Impact: Contrary to the defendants' claims of excessive earthquake force, the report stated that the collapse resulted from construction and design flaws, not the earthquake itself. The building would have withstood the quake if it had been constructed according to the 1998 Earthquake Code.

• Structural Calculations: The absence of static calculations for the elevator shaft in the slab floor was highlighted as a major fault.

• Illegal Floor: While prior reports varied on its impact, the latest report acknowledged the effect of an unauthorized additional floor.

• Missing Soil Study: Despite mandatory requirements, no soil study was conducted.

The report concludes that multiple parties, including architect Erdem Yıldız, civil engineers Mehmet Göncüoğlu and Hasan Aslan, and Halil Bağcı, who provided an incomplete 2001 static report, were negligent. The lawyers urged that the responsibilities of all defendants be re-evaluated in light of this evidence, which clearly assigns culpability across the board.