1966 Muş-Varto

On August 19, 1966, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 Mw struck the Muş-Varto region, profoundly affecting the provinces of Erzurum, Muş, and Bingöl. The disaster resulted in the tragic loss of 2,394 lives, according to official figures.

The Cumhuriyet newspaper vividly documented the extent of destruction and human suffering. Headlines reported "Severe Earthquake in the East," highlighting that approximately 90% of the Hınıs and Varto districts had been reduced to rubble. Reports included haunting descriptions of survivors trapped beneath debris, desperately calling out, "Save us!"

Coverage also captured frustrations among the affected population. Young people from Varto openly complained to then-Prime Minister Süleyman Demirel about the inadequate delivery of aid. Prominent journalists like Fikret Otyam poignantly portrayed the dire situation, writing, "Varto: Gone itself, only its name remains as a memory." Yılmaz Tunçkol provided additional harrowing accounts from the ground, reporting that "bodies in Varto had started to decay," "there were people without bread for four days," and describing a mass exodus from the devastated region.

Date: August 19, 1966

Magnitude: 6.5 Mw

Fatalities (official figures): 2.394

Damaged Buildings (official figures): NA