Six days marks one year since the Turkey-Syria earthquake that killed more than 59,000 people. Memorial ceremonies were held in the disaster-stricken areas of Turkey, where large crowds of people gathered to mourn the victims, while others criticized the slow recovery.
The devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey on February 6 last year killed more than 59,000 people, including 53,537 in Turkey and approximately 6,000 in neighboring Syria.
One year has passed since the earthquake occurred, and in Antakya in Hatay province in southern Turkey, which suffered severe damage, a memorial ceremony was held by local authorities to coincide with the earthquake at 4:17 a.m. .
Even before dawn, people gathered in the square in the center of the venue, filling the streets to mourn the victims.
On the other hand, there were constant voices of criticism about the delay in reconstruction and the fact that illegal construction that did not meet seismic standards was overlooked, leading to further damage, and continued even during the period of silence scheduled for the time of the earthquake. .
Afterwards, participants threw flowers into the river running through the city, offered prayers and renewed their commitment to recovery.
A 50-year-old woman who attended the ceremony with a photo of her deceased sister and her family said, ``Every morning I wake up with sadness. I have been grieving for the past year.'' She revealed what's inside her heart and says that the wounds in her heart still haven't healed.
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old high school boy who lives with his three family members in a broken-down home said, ``I want to continue living in this town where I was born and raised. He expressed his determination to contribute to the rebuilding of the city.