STORY: :: Turkey marks the second anniversary of an earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people

:: February 6, 2025

:: Hatay, Turkey

:: Adiyaman, Turkey

Hundreds of people gathered in central areas of Hatay province, one of the hardest-hit cities, to lay flowers in front of a monument commemorating the victims and marched through the streets chanting that they would not forget those lost to the quake. Others accused the government of negligence.

Empty streets, shuttered businesses, and demolition work still define Hatay, Turkey's southernmost city, which was once a bustling mixture of cultures and religions, and a draw for tourism.

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In Adiyaman, another city that saw wide-scale destruction due to the earthquake, hundreds marched through the streets and gathered at a square as part of the ceremony.

Two years after the deadliest and most destructive earthquake in modern Turkish history, hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced, with many still living in temporary housing, as rebuilding efforts lag behind initial targets.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023, and its aftershocks rattled 11 Turkish provinces and parts of northern Syria, killing more than 55,000 people and injuring more than 107,000.