06.02.2026 08:57
After the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, earthquake victims spent the anniversary of the February 6 earthquakes at the graves of their loved ones in Kapıçam Cemetery, where those who lost their lives were buried.
Three years have passed since the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, yet the pain still retains its freshness from the first day. Thousands of citizens who lost their lives in the disaster of the century were commemorated with prayers at the Kapıçam City Cemetery on the anniversary of the earthquake.
THEY SPENT THE NIGHT BY THE GRAVES OF THEIR LOVED ONES
During the memorials that lasted from the night hours until the first light of morning, earthquake survivors and their relatives spent the night by the graves of their loved ones. While there were times of congestion in the cemetery, some citizens lamented, while others recited the Quran and prayed. Families arriving at the graves with flowers left photos of their lost relatives on the gravestones, while some citizens could not hold back their tears. Survivors stated that despite the three years that have passed since the earthquake, the pain has not diminished, expressing that they experience the same sorrow every February 6.
SOME REMEMBERED THEIR FRIENDS, OTHERS THEIR SIBLINGS
An earthquake survivor named Alican Uzunlu said, "I lost a very close friend. I don't know where his grave is; I am looking for it, I hope I find it. I want to see it; I will pray at his grave."
Hacı Ahmet Yılmaz stated, "We are at the grave of my brother and his wife. We will spend the night here; we will clean the grave."
Another earthquake survivor named Sezgin Durmuş said, "We are in the third year, but it feels like it was just yesterday. My wife lost her brother, her mother, and our 5-year-old daughter. It is a difficult situation; may God not let anyone experience this. Our daughter was close to her grandmother; the building they were in collapsed. We found our deceased on the evening of the third day with our own means. We are praying here for all the deceased to have mercy."
Earthquake survivor İsmail Yalçın also said, "I lost both my daughters and my wife. One was 8, the other was 13 years old; there are no words to describe it. Actually, they have found salvation. The ones left behind are the ones who truly suffer. They never leave my mind."