President Ersin Tatar has visited Kahramanmaraş to express his heartfelt condolences on behalf of the TRNC to the victims of the devastating earthquakes that occurred last month, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and loss to properties.

The President visited the Karacasu Container City and the Tent City on the Avşar Campus of Sütçü İmam University. During the visit, the President spoke with the victims and expressed his heartfelt condolences and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Stating that there has been an unprecedented disaster due to the large-scale earthquakes that was lived on February 6, President Tatar, who earlier had also visited Gaziantep, stated that “an extraordinary effort has been put forward in terms of search and rescue operations by the emergency response units”.  

“I appreciate the magnitude of this disaster and the significant loss of life, which has devastated you and your brothers and sisters in TRNC. We share your pain and sorrow and stand with you in solidarity. Everybody is still trying to comprehend what has happened, and it is important to eventually start to heal the wounds of this disaster. May those who have died rest in peace.”

President Tatar commended the work, skill and competence of all emergency units that rushed to the earthquake hit regions of Türkiye to assist in search and rescue operations.

Explaining that the TRNC observed a period of mourning due to the loss of life in Türkiye that included the deaths of TRNC citizens, the President added: “The TRNC has been in mourning, and we share your pain deeply.  Forty-nine TRNC citizens – of which half were schoolchildren of the boys’ and girls’ volleyball teams of the Gazimağusa Türk Maarif College, as well as parents and teachers, died as a result of the catastrophic earthquakes, and found in the rubble of the Isias hotel.”

Expressing his condolences to the relatives and families of those who lost their lives in the earthquakes, President Tatar emphasised that the “Turkish Cypriot people are always together with Motherland Türkiye, irrespective of the circumstances, in times of sadness and pain and happiness”.

“Your pain is our pain,” the President said. “Your happiness is our happiness. There has been a massive display of unity and acts of solidarity shown by the TRNC to help our brothers and sisters in Türkiye.”

President Tatar expressed the belief that life will eventually return to normality in the future following works to be carried out in earthquake affected regions of the country.   Underlining the need for “effective measures” to be taken “to address the issue of having earthquake resistant buildings and structures to be constructed in the upcoming period,” the President said: “What this disaster has also shown is the importance of strengthening the nation, through acts of unity and solidarity.”

The President underlined that the establishment of temporary shelter areas, which has been provided under extraordinary conditions, has been a success.

President Tatar expressed his gratitude to all officials and ministers, and particularly to President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is putting forward extraordinary efforts to heal the wounds.

Explaining that there had been a plan for him to stage an official visit to Kahramanmaraş which had been organised prior to the earthquakes, the President said this visit had been planned to take place on February 10.  “However, following the disaster, the planned visit has been postponed to another date.” He said he will stage an official visit at a later date “when life here has returned to normality. . .to give a planned conference at Sütçü İmam University”.

Expressing that they will continue their struggle to overcome all difficulties with feelings of solidarity and brotherhood, President Tatar once again conveyed his well wishes to the victims.

President Tatar, who will head to Adana after Kahramanmaraş, will return to the TRNC later tonight.