Now it has transpired that many of the buildings that collapsed like houses of cards were built with concrete that had been mixed with ordinary sea sand. Rescue workers claimed that they have even seen seashells in the crumbled concrete.

The Prime Minister of Turkey admitted that mistakes have been made in the past with regard to the control of constructions and promised to take necessary remedial measures. He said action would be taken against contractors who built shoddy buildings and stricter rules would be applied in the future to prevent such tragedies.

One major contractor is said to have acknowledged that he had used sea sand in his concrete and that he didn't have a builder's license and that he would surrender to the police when passions calmed.