Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Rector’s Office released a commemorative message on the third anniversary of 6 February earthquake disaster, and passing anniversary of the Champion Angels. The said message reads as follows:
“6 February 2023 is not simply a date remembered on a calendar; it is a deep and enduring wound that will never be erased from our hearts. The sorrow we feel for the lives lost in the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, widely described as the disaster of the century, remains as raw and profound today as it was in the immediate aftermath. This devastating tragedy extinguished countless homes and tore families apart across Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The loss of our children—forever remembered as the Champion Angels, who inspired us through their sportsmanship, perseverance, and dreams filled with hope—together with the teachers who guided them and their family members, at the Adıyaman İsias Hotel, has left marks on our collective conscience that can never be undone. Our Champion Angels, among whom were the children of our University staff, became not only the cherished values of their families and schools but of our entire society; they are now angels who live on in the conscience, memory, and heart of a nation.
As Eastern Mediterranean University, we consider it our duty to honor the memory of all those we have lost, to deepen solidarity while never forgetting our shared grief, and to remain conscious of our responsibilities to prevent such disasters from recurring.
On the third anniversary of the tragedy, we once again express our full support for our families in their search for justice and our readiness to contribute at all times to ensuring that the memory of our Angels are remembered.
Our foremost wish is that such tragedies are never repeated, through strengthening public awareness of earthquakes, ensuring building safety, and enabling oversight and inspection mechanisms to operate effectively. On this occasion, we once again remember all our citizens and earthquake martyrs, especially our Champion Angels whom we lost in the 6 February earthquake. We extend our sincere condolences and boundless patience to their families, and we commemorate them with profound love and longing on the third anniversary of their passing. We have not forgotten, we will not forget, and we will never allow them to be forgotten...”
EMU Rector’s Office
