Türkiye marks third anniversary of deadly February 6 earthquakes

Türkiye on Thursday commemorated the victims of the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, marking the third anniversary of one of the deadliest disasters in the country’s modern history. Memorial ceremonies were held nationwide to honor the more than 53,000 people who lost their lives in the earthquakes that struck 11 provinces.

The powerful, Kahramanmaraş-centered twin earthquakes, which occurred in the early hours of February 6, 2023, left tens of thousands injured and caused widespread destruction across southeastern Türkiye.

Commemorations were held simultaneously in Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Hatay, Gaziantep, Adana, Osmaniye, Zonguldak, Burdur, Kilis, Diyarbakır, and Van. Mourners carried photographs of loved ones during silent marches, laid carnations at memorial sites, and observed a moment of silence at 04:17 a.m., the exact time the first earthquake struck.

In Kahramanmaraş, Pazarcık, and Adıyaman, ceremonies were held in front of clock towers—symbols of the disaster—where passages from the Qur’an were recited and prayers were offered. In Malatya, lawyers gathered in front of the collapsed Hakimbey Apartment building, while in Hatay, residents paid tribute along the banks of the Asi River.

Cemetery visits took place in Diyarbakır, Osmaniye, and Kilis, while in Van, mountaineering teams climbed Mount Erek to honor those who lost their lives.

Public officials and politicians emphasized the importance of social solidarity in the aftermath of disasters, while underlining the need for stronger preventive measures. Osmaniye Governor Mehmet Fatih Serdengeçti stated:

“Disasters may be fate, but negligence is never fate.”

In Burdur and Kilis, firefighters and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) teams held commemorations, reflecting on the responsibilities of their professions in disaster response and prevention.

Memorial events were attended by the Interior Minister, deputy ministers, members of parliament, mayors, representatives of civil society organizations, and thousands of citizens. The programs concluded with prayers, the laying of carnations, Quran recitations, and video presentations in memory of the victims.

Participants reiterated that the pain left by the earthquakes would not be forgotten and stressed the need to raise public awareness and work collectively toward a safer and more resilient future.

Photo: AA