Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the second anniversary of the devastating earthquakes that struck 11 provinces in southern Türkiye on February 6, 2023, with a heartfelt message on his social media account.

In his post, Erdoğan paid tribute to the 53,537 people who lost their lives in the disaster, offering prayers and condolences to their families and the nation.

"On the second anniversary of the February 6 earthquakes, which profoundly affected us all, opened deep wounds in our hearts, and left indelible marks in our nation's memory, I pray for mercy from almighty Allah for each of the 53,537 brothers and sisters we lost," Erdoğan stated.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to rebuilding the affected areas, Erdoğan emphasized that efforts to restore the region continue with determination.

"From the very first day, as a state and a nation, we said, 'We stand united,' and we have never once pulled back from assisting the regions affected by the earthquake. From now on, we will continue our efforts to rebuild and restore, with hard work, determination, resilience, and an unwavering resolve, until our cities rise again in full strength," he added.

The president assured that the government would not rest until all earthquake victims had returned to safe and permanent homes. He also pledged to honor the memory of those lost through prayers and remembrance.

"May Allah safeguard our homeland and our nation from such calamities," Erdoğan concluded.

The earthquakes of February 6, 2023, were among the deadliest in Türkiye’s history, causing widespread destruction and displacing thousands across multiple provinces. The government has since undertaken extensive reconstruction projects to rehabilitate the affected regions. (ILKHA)