As the sun sets on the first year after devastating earthquakes hit the southeast, Türkiye's narrative is one of resilience, unity and unwavering determination, the Daily Sabah reports.
While the road to recovery reportedly seems long for the country, the collective efforts, both national and international, stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of a nation rebuilding not just structures but lives.
On Feb. 6, 2023, Türkiye was shaken by deadly earthquakes, later dubbed as the “Disaster of the Century,” in which over 53,537 lives were lost, 107,213 were injured and over 800,000 independent units, encompassing homes and businesses, were severely damaged. The seismic waves, each with magnitudes exceeding 6.5, reverberated across a vast expanse, covering 120,000 square kilometers (46,332 square miles). An estimated 14 million people found themselves in the quake's impact zone.
The triple seismic onslaught, with epicenters in Kahramanmaraş, left an indelible mark on the landscape and the lives of millions.
In the wake of this catastrophic event, the response was swift and extensive. Eleven provinces, including Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Adana, Kilis and Elâzığ, alongside 124 districts and 6,929 neighborhoods, were affected. The disaster response mobilized a force of 11,488 international and 35,250 local search and rescue personnel, alongside 142,000 security personnel.
Since then, various financial aid, spanning rent assistance, support payments, property aid, evacuation support and demolition support, have been extended to alleviate the burdens borne by the affected citizens.
