The Agony of Two Years Turkey Marks Devastating Quake Disaster with Anger and Pain

The Agony of Two Years Turkey Marks Devastating Quake Disaster with Anger and Pain

It has been two years since a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey, leaving a trail of destruction and loss in its wake. On February 6, thousands of survivors gathered across southern Turkey to mark the exact moment the quake hit, expressing their pain and anger as they remembered the over 53,000 people who lost their lives in Turkey and some 6,000 in Syria.

As the clock struck 417 am, survivors held torchlit vigils, chanting Can anybody hear me? – a poignant reminder of the desperate cries for help that went unanswered in the aftermath of the disaster. The vigil was a powerful display of grief and anger, with many carrying banners reading We will not forget, we will not forgive. We will hold them accountable! – a call to action against those responsible for the tragedy.

The earthquake's impact was nothing short of devastating, with nearly 40,000 buildings destroyed and over 200,000 others severely damaged. The city of Antakya, once home to the ancient city of Antioch, lost 90 percent of its buildings, leaving many trapped under the rubble. In Antakya alone, more than 20,000 people died.

Despite the passage of time, the pain and anger still lingered for many survivors. Emine Albayrak, a 25-year-old survivor, said, Although two years have passed, we are still hurting. It still feels like it did on that first day. That hasn't changed. Humeysa Bagriyanik, who was just 16 when the quake hit, echoed these sentiments Two years have passed, but it still feels like yesterday for me... I feel like a stranger in my hometown now.

The disaster also highlighted the failures of urban planning and corruption, with many buildings constructed on unsuitable land without proper safety measures. The government has vowed to rebuild and restore efforts, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stating that they will continue our rebuilding and restoration efforts with hard work, sweat, patience and an iron will until our cities are back on their feet.

However, the fear of future earthquakes remains a constant concern for many survivors. In recent weeks, repeated earthquakes in the Aegean Sea have raised fears of a major tremor that could affect southwestern Turkey. Urban planning minister Murat Kurum warned of a big one hitting Istanbul, which lies just 15 kilometers from the North Anatolian faultline.

As Turkey marks this difficult anniversary, it is clear that the road to recovery will be long and arduous. But with anger and pain come demands for justice and accountability. The survivors' cries of We will not forget, we will not forgive serve as a powerful reminder that those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.

Keywords Turkey, earthquake, disaster, Antakya, Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.