It has been 26 years since the earthquake that claimed the lives of 845 of our citizens.

12.11.2025 14:43

On the evening of November 12, 1999, at 18:57, Düzce was shaken by one of the most devastating earthquakes in Turkey's history. Those who lost their lives in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake were commemorated at their graves.

Those who lost their lives in the earthquake that occurred in Düzce on November 12, 1999, were commemorated with prayers on the 26th anniversary of the disaster.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake centered in Kaynaşlı, which resulted in the deaths of 845 people and injuries to 2,678 others, was remembered with a program held at the Earthquake Martyrs' Cemetery in the district center on its 26th anniversary. The Quran was recited here, and prayers were made for those who lost their lives. Düzce Governor Selçuk Aslan, District Governor Kemal Sefa Gökmenoğlu, Kaynaşlı Mayor Efdal Altundal, Provincial Mufti Osman Aydın, Secretary General of the Provincial Special Administration Nuri Çelik, President of the Düzce Branch of the Green Crescent İsmail Korkmaz, relatives of those who lost their lives in the earthquake, department heads, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and citizens laid flowers at the graves.

"WE NEED TO LEARN FROM WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED"

Aslan stated to reporters that they were commemorating the 26th anniversary of the earthquake, saying, "This earthquake separated us from our mothers, fathers, siblings, and loved ones. May God grant them all a place in paradise. I wish mercy from Allah for all of them. Of course, life did not stop there; it continued. At this point, with the strong support of our state, its policies, and the determination of the people of Düzce, our city has risen again from where it stumbled. We need to learn lessons from what we have experienced. Disasters, especially earthquakes, are a reality of Turkey, and we must live with them."

Governor Aslan expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers who were martyred in the C130 military cargo plane that crashed on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.

PRAYERS WERE MADE

During the ongoing program at the Kaynaşlı Red Crescent Community Center, the Quran was recited, and prayers were made. Governor Aslan presented the "honorary citizenship certificate" given by the Kaynaşlı Municipal Council to Hamdi Bilge Aktaş, the first district governor appointed to Kaynaşlı after the earthquake, who is currently serving as the central governor and chief inspector of the civil administration.