Before fatal collapse, Turkish building had skirted code thanks to Erdogan policy

FILE PHOTO: A general view of Malatya, Turkey February 23, 2023, in this screen grab taken from a video. REUTERS/Natalie Thomas

MALATYA, Turkey (Reuters) - The Trend Garden Residence, an upscale serviced apartment building in the Turkish city of Malatya, boasted a gym, freshly-furnished rooms and a roof-top cafeteria.

But when a powerful earthquake jolted the city in the early hours of Feb. 6, the seven-floored building disintegrated, killing 29 people, according to two government officials. It was as if the structure had “liquefied,” one survivor said.