TRNC to Honor Victims of Türkiye’s Earthquake

Northern Cyprus will commemorate the victims of the February 6, 2023, earthquake in Türkiye, often referred to as the “tragedy of the century.” A memorial ceremony will take place on the second anniversary of the disaster at Famagusta’s Champion Angels Martyrdom Cemetery and the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center.

The event, featuring a special commemorative program, is being organized under the auspices of the TRNC Presidency.

The remembrance ceremony at the Champion Angels monument in Famagusta will begin on Thursday, February 6, at 10:30 AM. This will be followed by prayers and a floral tribute at 11:30 AM.

The memorial program will continue at the Rauf Raif Denktaş Culture and Congress Center, concluding with a concert by the TRNC Presidential Symphony Orchestra.

On February 6, 2023, two powerful earthquakes struck Türkiye nine hours apart, followed by thousands of aftershocks. The disaster claimed the lives of 50,000 people, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency and a seven-day national mourning period.

Among the victims were members of a youth volleyball team from Famagusta. The bodies of 35 people were recovered from the rubble of the Grand Isias Hotel in Adıyaman. In Northern Cyprus, these young athletes are remembered as the “Champion Angels.”