Thousands of mourners gathered before dawn on Thursday across southern Turkey, holding torchlit vigils to mark the second anniversary of the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck at 4:17 a.m., killing over 53,000 people in Turkey and approximately 6,000 in Syria.
In Antakya, one of the hardest-hit cities, survivors voiced their lingering pain and frustration. “Although two years have passed, it still feels like the first day,” said Emine Albayrak, 25. The disaster destroyed nearly 40,000 buildings and severely damaged 200,000 more, leaving millions homeless.
Chanting, “Can anybody hear me?” mourners echoed the desperate cries of those trapped under rubble. Many threw red carnations into the Orontes River in remembrance, while others carried banners reading, “We will not forget, we will not forgive.” Protesters blamed unsafe construction practices and government negligence for the scale of the destruction.
Tensions flared as security forces blocked parts of the march, leading to scuffles and three arrests.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking at a remembrance event in Adıyaman, where 8,000 lives were lost, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reconstruction. “By the new year, we will have built 453,000 residences,” he announced, adding that over 201,000 homes and businesses had already been handed over to survivors.
Despite these efforts, about 670,000 people still live in temporary container housing, and many survivors feel disconnected from their transformed cities. “I feel like a stranger in my hometown,” said 18-year-old Humeysa Bagriyanik.
Legal action has been taken against those deemed responsible for the disaster. Justice ministry records show 189 people have been jailed, with trials ongoing for 1,850 defendants.
Fears of Future Quakes
Seismic activity continues to unsettle the region. Over 6,000 tremors have been recorded in the Aegean Sea since late January, renewing fears of a major earthquake striking southwestern Turkey—particularly Istanbul, which lies near the North Anatolian Fault.
“Istanbul does not have the strength to withstand another earthquake of such magnitude,” warned Urban Planning Minister Murat Kurum, citing 600,000 homes at risk of collapse.
As Turkey remembers its dead and rebuilds, questions of accountability and preparedness for future disasters remain at the forefront of national discourse.
