A telemarathon was held on Bayrak Radio Television Corporation on Tuesday to raise money for earthquake victims in Türkiye.

The money raised will be used for the construction of a container city that will house over 5000 earthquake survivors.

The fund-raiser programme on Bayrak Radio Television Corporation was attended by President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu, the leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhürman, the Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı, the head of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry Ali Kamacıoğlu, the head of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Turgay Avcı, the head of the Cyprus Turkish Hoteliers Association Dimağ Çağıner, the head of the Cyprus Turkish Contractors Association Cafer Gürcafer and the head of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Shopkeepers and Artisans Mehmet Ali Ardıç.

Speaking on the programme, President Ersin Tatar said that the TRNC was sharing and feeling the pain caused by the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye.

“Our hearts and soul are with the Turkish people. We will keep the memory alive of our loved ones who perished in the earthquake with the container city we will help build. Our pain, our grief and our mourning is one. Our prayers are with those who are affected by this disaster,” he said.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel who also spoke expressed his sorrow and regret for not being able to save the 35 member volleyball team in Adıyaman.

“We requested from the Turkish government that we name the container city ‘Our champion angels’ to honour their memory. They kindly showed us where we could install the container homes,” he said.

The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu for his part said that a tragedy had been experienced in Türkiye and thanked the support and solidarity shown by the Turkish Cypriot people.

The other participants also expressed their sympathies to those who lost their lives and their support to recovery and relief efforts in Türkiye.