The Disaster of the Century Commemorated at Altınbaş University
Altınbaş University marked the first anniversary of the Disaster of the Century with a commemoration ceremony. Rector Prof. Dr. Çağrı Erhan emphasized the importance of earthquake preparedness, stating, "Knowing what to do can save lives.
Last year, on February 6th, an earthquake occurred in Kahramanmaraş, affecting 11 provinces and registering as the largest disaster in the history of the Republic. The earthquake, which resulted in the loss of more than 50,000 lives, was commemorated at Altınbaş University as well as across the entire country.
During the memorial ceremony, a moment of silence was observed for those who lost their lives in the earthquake, followed by the national anthem.
The ceremony included emotional moments as the memories of Altınbaş University students who lost their lives in the earthquake were remembered. These students were Fatih Sultan Mehmet Aslan from the Faculty of Dentistry, Büşra Aktemur from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Simay Atlı from the Psychology Department, and Ali Rıza Taştan from the First Aid and Emergency Intervention Department.
Speaking at the ceremony, Altınbaş University Rector Prof. Dr. Çağrı Erhan shared the support initiatives carried out by the University after the earthquake and recounted the experiences during that period. "Believing that the most effective and fastest way to help earthquake victims is to directly reach them, we formed the Earthquake Coordination Team within the University," said Prof. Dr. Çağrı Erhan, mentioning the swift launch of the Support Chain Campaign by the University Student Deanship.
Expressing that they conducted a widely participated aid campaign with contributions from the public, Prof. Dr. Erhan stated, "We distributed the food and children's supplies we obtained from Istanbul directly to the earthquake-stricken areas with our own teams. We preferred to reach our needy students and graduates directly. By establishing a WhatsApp line and communicating through all social media channels, we aimed to deliver more effective help to earthquake victims during the disaster. We thank all our employees who contributed and supported the campaign and all citizens who supported us."
Erhan also emphasized that Türkiye is an earthquake-prone country, advising, "Knowing what to do during an earthquake can save lives. Conduct regular earthquake drills at your homes and institutions. Address your deficiencies in this regard by taking First Aid and Emergency Intervention training.