16.08.2026 14:10
On the 27th anniversary of the August 17, 1999 Marmara Earthquake, the remains of the hotel, pier, tea garden, and houses that were submerged by the earthquake in Değirmendere, Gölcük district of Kocaeli, were filmed underwater by municipal divers and DESSAT teams. The area is currently used as a diving site.
Buildings and belongings submerged in the waters of Gölcük district of Kocaeli during the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake have been captured on camera by divers.
A SUNKEN CITY UNDER THE WATERS
27 years have passed since the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake, whose epicenter was Gölcük district of Kocaeli. In the 7.4 magnitude earthquake, a hotel on the shore in Değirmendere, a neighborhood of Gölcük, along with a ferry dock, a tea garden, and some houses sank underwater, creating a sunken area that is now used as one of the diving sites.
TRACES OF THE EARTHQUAKE AS ON THE FIRST DAY
In the area located approximately 180 meters offshore from Değirmendere Beach and extending to a depth of 18 to 55 meters, there are remains of plane trees uprooted during the earthquake, as well as umbrellas from the tea garden, street lamps, and mobile vendor stalls.
EARTHQUAKE REMAINS CAPTURED ON CAMERA
Divers from the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department and teams from the Değirmendere Underwater Community (DESSAT) dived in the area and captured images of the structural remains that have stayed underwater years after the earthquake.