Turkish authorities have arrested the contractor of a 12-storey building that collapsed in the earthquake while trying to leave the country, Anadolu Agency reported.

It is estimated that 800 people are under the rubble of the "Rönesans rezidans" residential building, which includes 250 apartments, in Hatay, in southeastern Turkey.

The Turkish agency said that the contractor was arrested at Istanbul airport before he left the country for Montenegro, with a large amount of money in his possession.

The luxurious apartment building he was presenting on social networks as a "corner of heaven" has completely collapsed.

"Cennetten bir köşe" diye tanıttıkları Rönesans Rezidans, Hatay… pic.twitter.com/O7iLZ77XGi

— Onedio (@onediocom) February 10, 2023

Turkish media indicated that the Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu, who plays for Hatayspor, and the team's sports director, Taner Savut, were among those trapped under the rubble of this building, and rescue teams are trying to search for survivors in the place.

Since Monday, the Turkish media has denounced some contractors who used inferior materials or did not respect safety standards.

Rönesans rezidansı yapan müteahhitler gelen şikayetler ve istihbaratlar sonucu yurtdışına kaçmaya çalışırken havaalanında yakalandı.

@bpthaber pic.twitter.com/N2KnPu7ssk

- ibrahim Haskoloğlu (@haskologlu) February 10, 2023

According to the private TV channel "NTV", the first legal complaint was filed on Friday in Diyarbakir (southeast), followed by other complaints.

"Investigations are continuing regarding the collapsed buildings," Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Friday. "Those responsible will be identified and summoned before the judiciary."

A devastating earthquake struck at dawn last Monday in southern Turkey and northern Syria, and was felt by the residents of a number of countries in the region, and resulted - according to the latest statistics - in the killing of more than 23 thousand people and wounding tens of thousands, as well as causing great damage to buildings and facilities in both Turkey and Syria.