06.02.2026 10:43
Kazım Budak, a truck driver who became one of the symbolic figures of February 6 by driving to the earthquake zone from Istanbul with a construction machine without pressing the brake for 9 hours, made notable statements at the memorial program held in Kahramanmaraş. Budak said, "I had covered the dial with a napkin back then so that I wouldn't see it at all. I arrived in 9 hours."
On February 6, a commemoration program was organized by the Kahramanmaraş Governorship and the Metropolitan Municipality at the National Will Square to mark the anniversary of the three earthquakes. Kahramanmaraş Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer and Metropolitan Mayor Fırat Görgel attended the program where the Quran was recited and prayers were made for those who lost their lives in the earthquake.
TRAVELED FROM ISTANBUL TO KAHRAMANMARAŞ IN 9 HOURS
Kazım Budak, who loaded his construction machine onto a truck in Istanbul and took it to the Elbistan district, the epicenter of the second earthquake in 9 hours, also attended the program. His speed on the road has left a lasting impression.
"I CAN'T FORGET THOSE MOMENTS"
Budak, who came to the city as a guest of the Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality, relived those days. He stated that he did not slow down despite the rainy weather and continued without taking any breaks to deliver the construction machine to the earthquake zone as quickly as possible, saying he never forgot those moments.
"THEY TOLD ME YOU WILL GO TO KAHRAMANMARAŞ TO HELP"
Budak said, "They called me from the workplace I was working at. They said you will go to Kahramanmaraş to help. I went to the company, we loaded the excavator and continued to Kahramanmaraş. The roads were of course covered with snow and blizzards, but we didn't think about anything anymore. When it comes to saving a life, I continued to Kahramanmaraş at full speed, without taking any breaks or pressing the brakes. We were initially going to Hatay. They redirected us to Elbistan from Kayseri.
"I HAD COVERED THE DIAL WITH A NAPKIN"
I had covered the dial with a napkin back then so I wouldn't see it at all. As long as I wasn't stuck, I definitely didn't press the brake, and I didn't take a break anywhere. However, everyone was running like me, but they had captured me. They threw me into the media. Once I was in the media, we became a topic on social media. However, when we arrived in Elbistan, we came with great sadness, with tears. But when I saw the people and the state hand in hand there, I was happy. I was proud of my state," he said.