The Disaster of the Century: Türkiye heals its wounds – A Year On

Türkiye experienced the devastating events of the century on February 6th of the previous year. Official reports indicate that over 50 thou- sand individuals lost their lives in earthquakes measuring 7.8 Mw and 7.5 Mw, occurring nine hours apart on that fateful day. The epicentres were Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş, respectively, impacting a vast region, including northern Syria. The earth- quakes inflicted damage across 11 Turkish cities, resulting in the destruction of more than 35 thousand buildings, including numerous his-torical landmarks, and severe damage to nearly 300 thousand structures. Directly affecting over 14 million people nationwide, the earthquakes left an indelible mark on all Turkish citizens.

As TRT World Research Centre, we document- ed the events between February 6, 2023, and March 16 in an info pack titled “The Disaster of the Century: Turkey Heals its Wounds”.

This document captures Türkiye’s determined efforts from March 16 onwards, following the seismic catastrophe that shook the nation. Türkiye’s populace, encompassing a tapestry of ages, genders, and backgrounds, has coalesced in steadfast determination to alleviate the tan- gible and intangible scars left by the calamity. A wave of initiatives has surged, with the campaign for recovery and rejuvenation pressing on unwaveringly.