The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan has issued a statement commemorating the anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck the Kahramanmaras region of Turkiye.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the statement was published on the MFA's official social media accounts to honor the memory of the victims.
In the official statement, the Ministry noted that the severe earthquake in Kahramanmaras claimed thousands of lives and caused large-scale destruction, leaving a deep impact on the region: "On the anniversary of the severe earthquake in the Kahramanmaras region of brotherly Turkiye, we once again recall the deep pain and sorrow caused by this great disaster. We honor the dear memory of the victims of this tragedy with deep sadness. The state and people of Azerbaijan always stand by Turkiye and share this pain as their own."
The Ministry also extended wishes for continued prosperity, welfare, and peace to the brotherly state and people of Turkiye. Following the disaster, Azerbaijan was among the first countries to provide humanitarian aid and rescue teams to the affected zones, reflecting the "one nation, two states" philosophy that defines the bilateral relationship.
On February 6, 2023, consecutive earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 struck the Kahramanmaras province in southeastern Turkiye. The natural disaster resulted in the deaths of more than 53,000 people and the collapse of tens of thousands of buildings. This event is recorded as one of the deadliest seismic disasters in the region's modern history, prompting a massive international relief effort and a long-term reconstruction process in the affected provinces.
