Truth Emerges After Three Years: Minister Ersoy's Brush with Death in Malatya Earthquake Revealed
A critical and previously undisclosed detail from the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023, has come to light three years after the disaster. It has been revealed that Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who was appointed as the coordinator minister for Malatya, narrowly escaped death when the provincial governor's building partially collapsed during a major aftershock while he was inside.
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Minister Ersoy, who was dispatched to the region immediately after the first quakes, was conducting a coordination meeting at the Malatya Governorate Office when a second major tremor struck. The powerful shaking caused part of the building to collapse, but the minister emerged from the rubble unharmed. This harrowing personal experience, which occurred while he was leading crisis management efforts, had never been publicly shared until now.
The incident was emotionally recalled by Ersoy himself during his latest visit to Malatya for the third anniversary of the disaster. After attending ceremonies in Hatay, the minister's press briefing at the very same governorate building brought back vivid memories, underscoring the lasting personal impact of the catastrophe on those who led the response.
The 2023 Earthquakes and the Long Road to Recovery
The Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.7, constitute one of the greatest natural disasters in modern Turkish history. The tremors affected 11 provinces, leveling cities and causing catastrophic loss of life and infrastructure. Minister Ersoy was among the key figures tasked with overseeing the immediate response and long-term recovery in the cultural sphere of the affected regions.
During his recent visit, Ersoy provided a comprehensive account of the reconstruction work focused on cultural heritage. He reported that damage assessments were conducted on 5,119 cultural assets across the 11 provinces. To date, 63 restoration projects have been completed, with 7.3 billion Turkish Lira allocated solely for cultural heritage sites. Furthermore, approximately 2 billion lira in grants have been provided for registered structures under private ownership.
The minister emphasized the intensive, on-ground coordination effort, stating that he and his colleagues worked in the field for approximately six months to manage all related operations. He expressed that being accepted as a fellow citizen by the people of Malatya was a great honor, attributing any success to the unwavering will of the local population in the face of disaster.
A Delayed Revelation and Emotional Remembrance
The fact that Minister Ersoy's life was in peril during the disaster remained unknown to the public for three full years. Despite his frequent visits to Malatya throughout the recovery process, this critical personal moment was only revealed during the recent anniversary commemoration. The delay highlights how the intense focus on crisis management and the scale of public tragedy can overshadow the individual experiences of even the most prominent responders.
The emotional weight of the memory was palpable during the minister's address. His recollection serves as a potent reminder that behind the statistics, official reports, and reconstruction figures, the earthquakes were a deeply personal and traumatic event for millions, affecting survivors, victims' families, and responders alike.
The story underscores a broader narrative of the disaster: one of sudden peril, personal risk for those rushing to help, and a long, arduous journey of recovery that continues to this day, both for the physical infrastructure and the collective memory of the nation.