President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan commemorated the 26th anniversary of the devastating 1999 Marmara earthquake, which remains one of the deadliest disasters in Türkiye’s modern history.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, Erdoğan reflected on the tragedy that struck the country in the early hours of August 17, 1999:

"Twenty-six years ago, on August 17, 1999, we lost our citizens in the Marmara Earthquake, and we still feel their pain in our hearts today. On this anniversary of this great tragedy, I pray for the mercy of Allah upon those who lost their lives and once again extend my condolences to their families and loved ones."

The Marmara Earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4, hit northwestern Türkiye at 3:02 a.m., causing widespread destruction across Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Yalova, and surrounding provinces. Lasting just 37 seconds, the tremor killed more than 17,000 people, injured over 25,000, and left hundreds of thousands homeless. The disaster also dealt a severe blow to Türkiye’s economy and revealed major shortcomings in urban planning, building standards, and disaster preparedness.

Since then, Türkiye has taken significant steps to improve earthquake resilience, including the introduction of stricter construction regulations, nationwide disaster awareness campaigns, and the establishment of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

Marking the anniversary, President Erdoğan emphasized the importance of never forgetting the lessons of 1999, underlining that earthquake preparedness remains a national priority as Türkiye sits on one of the most active seismic zones in the world. (ILKHA)