The Screams of One Year Ago Were Replaced by ‘Silence’ This Year
On the anniversary of the great disaster we experienced on February 6, 2023. On the same day and at the same time, thousands of Iskenderun residents commemorated the lives they lost with a ‘Silent March’.
The commemoration event organized by Iskenderun District Governorship started in front of the district governorship building. On the anniversary of the disaster, thousands of earthquake victims from Iskenderun gathered around 04:00 on February 6, 2024, and once again marched silently with teary eyes, feeling the pain of the lives they lost.
The commemoration march organized at 04.00 was attended by former Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, Deputy Minister of National Education Nazif Yılmaz, İskenderun District Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek, AK Parti Hatay Deputy Abdülkadir Özel, İskenderun Mayor Fatih Tosyalı, Hatay Metropolitan Municipality İskenderun Coordinator Murat Yavuz Savaşçı, institution chiefs and thousands of earthquake-affected citizens attended.
Citizens who filled the Cumhuriyet Square, walked to Pac Square via Şehit Pamir Street, following the banner saying ‘We did not forget’. It was observed that many citizens were crying during the march, which also included children.
The crowd came to Pac Square, where the commemoration event would be held, and commemorated the earthquake martyrs with a moment of silence and the National Anthem.
Hatay Armenian Churches Spiritual Leader Father Avedis Tabaşyan, Greek Orthodox Church Father Nikolas Yusuf Papasoğlu, Şeyh Mennan Gündüz and İskenderun District Mufti Ramazan Avcı also prayed at the commemoration ceremony.
(News: Helga TERBİYELİ)
