On May 1, 2003, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Bingöl, causing significant destruction, especially at a dormitory housing 198 students. Cumhuriyet headlines "Yine Acı, Yine Gözyaşı" (Again Pain, Again Tears), comparing the devastation to a 1971 earthquake that destroyed a midwife school. The headline "Deprem Değil Cinayet" (Not an Earthquake but Murder) suggests these disasters are preventable. Reports highlight delayed aid and favouritism in distribution, detailing negligence, substandard materials, and construction corruption.
Milliyet's headline "Çocukların Hayatını Çaldılar" (They Stole the Children's Lives) blames contractors for the destruction. A photo of an AKUT (Search and Rescue Association) member rescuing a child is prominently featured, alongside the headline "Bunu da Unuturuz!" (We Will Forget This too). A Milliyet reporter captures the moment his relatives are pulled from the rubble, one of the most heartbreaking stories.
Date: May 1, 2003
Magnitude: 6.4 Mw
Fatalities (official numbers): 176
Damaged buildings (official numbers): 6,000
