Nearly 100 arrested in Turkey for looting and fraud after earthquake

(Patria) - Turkish security forces on Saturday arrested at least 98 people accused of looting damaged buildings or defrauding victims of the devastating earthquake, CNN reports.

According to security sources, who wished to remain anonymous "due to media restrictions," an investigation was launched into at least 42 suspects in the southern Turkish province of Hatay over allegations of looting damaged buildings.

At least 40 suspects were arrested, and security forces seized six pistols, three rifles, jewelry, bank cards, $11,000, and 70,000 Turkish Lira (about $3,700) in cash, state news reported, citing sources.

Two other individuals were also arrested after posing as aid workers and allegedly attempting to steal six trucks of food for earthquake victims in Hatay province, the agency reported.

At least six people were also arrested in Istanbul for allegedly defrauding earthquake victims in southern Gaziantep by phone, Anadolu reports.

Elsewhere in the country, dozens of other suspects have been arrested for alleged looting in earthquake-hit areas.

The suspects were arrested in what are known so far to be eight provinces, including Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adıyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Adana, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa.

The death toll in Turkey and Syria from the earthquake on Sunday morning has exceeded 28,000, and hopes of finding many more survivors are fading despite some miraculous rescues.