Siblings Who Lost Loved Ones in the Earthquake Prayed at the Cemetery

The Koçak brothers, who lost loved ones in the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Erciş on October 23, 2011, offered prayers at the cemetery on the 15th anniversary of the disaster. Kılıçarslan Koçak shared that he lost his wife, children, and other relatives, and that he remains unable to forget the pain.

The Koçak brothers, who lost many of their loved ones in the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the Erciş district of Van on October 23, 2011, still carry the weight of that enduring pain.

In the 2011 earthquake—centered in the Tabanlı neighborhood of Van—604 people lost their lives, and 1,966 were injured. The earthquake was felt with particular intensity in the Erciş district, where it claimed the lives of hundreds. The Koçak brothers, having lost family members in the 2011 disaster, visited the graves of their loved ones at the Seyyid Muhammet Cemetery to offer prayers.

Kılıçarslan Koçak, who lost his immediate family, said, “In the October 23 earthquake, I lost my wife, my children, my mother, my older brother, and many other relatives. I always come to visit their graves. Even though 15 years have passed since the earthquake, I have not been able to forget them; I am here again today to mark the anniversary. It is not about reliving the pain, but rather about remembering them. It was a disaster that can never be forgotten—may no one ever have to experience such a thing; may God spare everyone from such suffering. It is difficult, but life goes on somehow.” Murat Koçak, who lost many of his loved ones, said, “We are at the anniversary of the 2011 earthquake. May God never let anyone experience such pain. Only those who have endured it truly understand; those who haven’t, cannot. Everyone should take precautions and ensure their homes and workplaces are earthquake-resistant. Our country is in an earthquake zone—may God spare everyone from such a fate. While death is an inevitable part of life, mass death is a different kind of hardship. In the 2011 earthquake, I lost my mother, my brother, my nieces and nephews, my sisters-in-law, and my wife. The losses were immense, and we carry that pain within us. After the earthquake, we tried to get back on our feet. We will continue our lives for as long as we are meant to. My only request to people is that they take good care of themselves, live with proper precautions, and strive for both this world and the hereafter. May God never let anyone go through this again. We went to the site of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake and saw the situation there; because we have lived through it ourselves, we understand their suffering. We witnessed both the Maraş and Erciş earthquakes. When we set out for the Maraş earthquake, we carried the memory of our own pain with us. We tried to help them with all our hearts. May God bless the state and the various associations; they worked with such dedication. Whether it was food, supplies, or other material and moral support, everyone did everything in their power to help. People from all over Türkiye came to provide aid following the Maraş earthquake.”