Turkish president relays message on devastating quake that hit Marmara 12 years ago

ANKARA (A.A) - August 17, 2011 - Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said that it was the biggest responsibility of the Turkish state and society to take necessary decisions and measures by taking into consideration the fact that Turkey laid atop the active North Anatolian fault line.
President Gul released a statement on the 12th anniversary of the devastating Marmara quake. 
"Turkey has experienced the biggest disasters of its history when a devastating earthquake struck northwestern Turkey on August 17, 1999. The quake caused serious casualties and massive damage. Our state and people made extraordinary efforts in an unforgettable solidarity to heal the wounds of quake survivors," he said. 
"Although 12 years have passed since that day, our grief is still fresh. We have never forgotten those who lost their lives in the disaster and we will always remember them. As the Turkish state and society, our biggest responsibility is to learn from the disaster and take necessary decisions and measures by taking into consideration the fact that Turkey laid atop the active North Anatolian fault line," he said .
President Gul highlighted importance of the National Quake Strategy and Action Plan.  
A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 on Richter scale devastated northwestern Turkey on August 17, 1999, killing thousands of people and injuring thousands of others.