More than 10 000 people gathered in the early hours of Tuesday the 6th of February to pay tribute to the who died in the devastating earthquake in south-eastern Turkey, some protesting against what they see as government negligence in the aftermath, reports Reuters.
Turkey’s worst earthquake in modern history, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake wiped out parts of cities in the south-east and neighbouring Syria. More than 50 000 people were killed in Turkey, about 5 900 in Syria and millions were left homeless.
In Hatay province, Turkey’s worst-hit region, residents rallied for the government and local authorities to step down, booing officials during a commemorative event.
Hatay’da yapılan resmi deprem anmasında, Lütfü Savaş ve Fahrettin Koca halk tarafından yuhalanıp protesto edildi!
“Biz kefen bulamadık, cenaze arabası bulamadık! Unutmak yok, helalleşmek yok!” pic.twitter.com/dqhwEQUK2N
— Umut (@demoqrat1) February 6, 2024
Shouts of “Can anyone hear me?” were directed at Health Minister Fahrettin Koca
during his speech, symbolising the cries for help that could be heard under the rubble as people waited for days for help.
Residents say that many people died not because buildings collapsed, but because they waited so long trapped in the rubble and the cold.
After a memorial event in Hatay, people threw flowers into the Asi River to commemorate the victims of the earthquake. Merve Gursel, who lost family members in the earthquake, threw carnations in the river for each of them, washing away the pain of those who were not heard and rescued. Nesibe Duzgun threw flowers for everyone she knew, expressing unity among the people of Hatay.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on X that the pain of the earthquakes was as fresh now as it was a year ago and that his government had acted swiftly, in what he called “the disaster of the century”.
However, Hatay residents accused the government of leaving the city’s inhabitants to die, asking why help was not provided and expressing frustration at being forgotten.
Also read: Turkey’s earthquake victims weigh in on loyalty to Erdogan
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