On the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake, commemoration programs were organized for those who lost their lives in Istanbul's Avcılar district, Kocaeli's Gölcük district, Sakarya and Yalova.
ISTANBUL
In the program organized by Avcılar Municipality and Avcılar City Council on the 27th anniversary of the Marmara Earthquake, Avcılar Deputy Mayor Yüksel Can and members of the Neighborhood Disaster Volunteers Emergency Response Association came together in Avcılar Havuz Square.
The group then walked from here to the earthquake monument on Marmara Street and then observed a minute of silence.
Avcılar Deputy Mayor Yüksel Can, in his statement here, stated that even though 27 years have passed since the earthquake, they continue to experience the pain of the earthquake deeply and said that they commemorate those who lost their lives in the earthquake with respect and mercy.
Can stated that, as Avcılar Municipality, they continue the necessary work regarding the earthquake and said:
"If we think that we experienced the earthquake not now, but exactly 27 years ago, a few minutes later, we would actually be more aware of the reality and risks we are facing today. It is actually easy to talk about the earthquake here under comfortable conditions today, but when we think of the things we experienced during the earthquake, when we hear a building collapsed, a road closed, the voices of people trapped under the earthquake rubble and their requests for help, we can really feel the magnitude of the disaster we are facing better."
Stating that the earthquake is a natural disaster, Can said, "The collapse of a building and the loss of a citizen due to an earthquake is a completely public administration responsibility. I am sure that if those who allowed the construction of these buildings and the people who made the necessary technical conditions and laws for the construction of these buildings had shown the necessary sensitivity in this regard, the earthquake would not have been a disaster that resulted in loss of life for us." he said.
After the speeches, protocol members left carnations at the earthquake monument, around which lit candles were placed.
KOCAELİ
Those who lost their lives in the Marmara Earthquake were commemorated with prayers at 03.02 in the Gölcük district of Kocaeli, the epicenter of the disaster that occurred on August 17, 1999.
According to AA news; At the commemoration event held in front of the Earthquake Monument on Kavaklı Beach for the 27th anniversary of the Marmara Earthquake, a wreath was presented to the monument when the clock showed 03.02, when the earthquake occurred.
Afterwards, a moment of silence was observed and prayers were said for those who lost their lives in the earthquake. Citizens threw carnations into the sea.
Gölcük District Governor Müfit Gültekin, Gölcük Naval Main Base Commander Rear Admiral Mehmet Özgür Özömek, representatives of non-governmental organizations and citizens attended the ceremony.
SAKARYA
Sela was recited at the commemoration program organized for those who lost their lives in the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake in Sakarya.
Following the commemoration program organized by Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality at the 15 July Democracy Square, on the 27th anniversary of the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake, the sela was recited by Hafız Ahmet Gencer when the clock showed 03.02 when the earthquake occurred.
After the salute, a prayer was made by Provincial Preacher Mehmet Çatallar.
YALOVA
In Yalova, those who lost their lives were commemorated on the 27th anniversary of the Marmara Earthquake on August 17, 1999.
As part of the commemoration programs, the march started at the 15 July Democracy and Republic Square and continued along the Gazipaşa Street route to the Earthquake Monument.
Speaking at the program held here, AK Party Deputy Chairman and Head of Organization Ahmet Büyükgümüş said that they never forgot the Marmara Earthquake.
Stating that this earthquake taught Türkiye a lot, AK Party Yalova Deputy Büyükgümüş said, "In terms of construction, search and rescue efforts, and since 1999, after August 17, 1999, Turkey has been the beginning of a process that has progressed in all these areas such as combating disasters and construction." he said.
Büyükgümüş mentioned that the February 6 earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş was still fresh in our minds and continued as follows:
"We have overcome this process by regretting the earthquake disaster that occurred 3 years ago, which is very big in terms of the entire world history, and by experiencing it together with those who lost our brothers to eternity. Thank God, our state has gained great experience since August 17. Especially with the steps we have taken in the last 20 years, we have made important strides in both search and rescue, construction and all coordination during the earthquake. Especially in the last year, we traveled street by street in 11 provinces that experienced the February 6 earthquake. "As your brother, I say that we have built more than 600 thousand independent units in a short period of 3 years."
"We need to take the steps we need to take quickly"
Emphasizing that making cities resilient before disasters occur is an important duty for everyone, Büyükgümüş said:
"Hopefully, we will take our steps in Yalova today, just like in the past, by making our decisions together and fighting together. Here, public decision-makers, municipalities, ministries, as well as civil works, headmen, and non-governmental organizations have a duty. We need to quickly achieve the steps we need to take by giving everyone their accounting regarding urban transformation. It is up to us to take the necessary steps on other issues. May God have mercy on our citizens and fellow countrymen who lost their lives on August 17. I also wish patience to their families.”
Yalova Governor Ahmet Hamdi Usta also stated that he understands very well the troubles and troubles of everyone who experienced this earthquake.
Drawing attention to the active faults in the country, Usta said, "Our duty is to be prepared as if we will experience the reality of an earthquake at any moment. As citizens, we must take the measures that are important to us, saying that earthquakes do not kill, negligence does. Of course, we are obliged to take these measures at the highest level, representing our state, and share them with you." he said.
The commemoration program attended by protocol members continued with a tour of the stands set up in the area.
At the commemoration event held at the Earthquake Monument, when the clock showed 03.02 when the earthquake occurred, a moment of silence was observed and prayers were made for those who lost their lives in the earthquake.
Citizens visiting the photo exhibition taken during the earthquake left carnations on the marble block monument where the names of those who lost their lives were written.
