His Wife and Children Victims of the 2023 Turkey Earthquake Grieving Father Visits the Graves of His Wife and Children After Work

Three years have passed since the devastating earthquake struck Turkey on February 6, 2023, but the pain remains alive in the heart of Emre Bozkurt. At 32 years old, he lost his wife and children that early morning when their home collapsed on them as they slept, and he survived alone after being rescued by emergency teams seven hours later from under the rubble.

Every day, after finishing work, Emre heads to the cemetery where his family’s remains lie in Kahramanmaraş province, south-central Turkey. Even in the harshest weather, amid the snow covering the region these days, he visits the graves of his wife and children, carrying gifts and toys that once delighted his little ones: İgemen (3 years old) and Arya (5 years old).

A Cup of Coffee on the Grave

He never forgets the coffee his wife Aynur loved, placing a cup on the edge of her grave as a silent message: "I never left you." The graves have become part of his new home; children’s photos are hung, their toys arranged, and their personal belongings preserved as if they were still with him, while the coffee represents the ongoing presence of the absent mother.

His story, widely known, serves as a reminder of the value of life and the importance of daily appreciation for loved ones, showing that every moment with family could be the last. With each step toward the graves, Emre feels a piece of his heart still lives with them, despite the emptiness around him.

The earthquake that struck ten Turkish provinces and parts of northwest Syria was catastrophic: over 55,000 killed, hundreds of thousands injured, and widespread destruction of homes and buildings. But for Emre Bozkurt, the loss is not just numbers… it is a whole life lost, and a pain that accompanies him every day at the graves of his loved ones.