Sixth Hearing in the Isias Hotel Collapse Case Begins in Adıyaman

The sixth hearing in the case of the Isias Hotel collapse, which claimed the lives of 72 people, begins today at the Third High Criminal Court in Adıyaman.

The hearings, expected to last two days, are anticipated to conclude with a verdict. This legal process has been ongoing for nearly a year.

A delegation of around 100 individuals from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), led by Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, has traveled to Turkey to attend the hearings.

The proceedings are expected to be attended by several ministers, members of parliament, political figures, members of the Temporary Special Committee established to oversee the legal and judicial aspects of the earthquake-related cases, representatives of the Bar Association, journalists, and the families of the “Champion Angels,” who tragically lost their lives in the collapse.

The TRNC delegation arrived in Adıyaman last night, traveling via Gaziantep.

To recap, the first hearing in the case of the Grand Isias Hotel collapse—which occurred during the February 6, 2023 earthquake and resulted in the deaths of 72 people, including 35 Turkish Cypriots—was held in January at the Adıyaman High Criminal Court. After several days of proceedings, the court issued temporary rulings.

The families’ lawyers representing the Champion Angels contested these rulings. The second hearing, attended by about 100 Turkish Cypriots, took place on April 26. Subsequent hearings were held on June 12, October 21, and December 3.

The term "Champion Angels" is used to honor the members of a youth volleyball team from Famagusta who perished in the earthquake on February 6. The bodies of 35 individuals were recovered from the rubble of the Isias Hotel.

The young athletes, aged 12 to 14, along with their parents and several teachers, had traveled to Adıyaman just days before the disaster to participate in a volleyball tournament. Tragically, only four parents and the deputy principal of their school survived the earthquake.