At least 284 dead and 2,323 were injured in the early morning earthquakes in Turkey, which affected 10 provinces, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said at a press conference in Ankara on Monday.
Oktay also reported that at least 1,710 buildings collapsed in the disaster. He also explained that 78 aftershocks have been registered so far, three of which exceeded magnitude 6, and the strongest was magnitude 6.6.
According to the data of the Turkish Disaster Management, at 4:17 local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 occurred in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province in southern Turkey, which was followed by a 6.4 earthquake in the Nurdagi district of Gaziantep province in southeastern Turkey at 4:26 a.m., followed by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in the Islahiye area of Gaziantep at 4:36 p.m.
Putin offered help to Erdogan and Assad during the earthquake
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered help to his Turkish and Syrian official partners for the rescue work after the earthquake on Monday, the Kremlin’s press service announced on Monday.
According to information from Moscow, Putin expressed his condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone for the victims of the natural disaster and expressed Russia’s readiness to help. The Russian leader had a similar exchange of views with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that it is ready to send two Il-76 aircraft carrying rescue teams to Turkey to deal with the consequences of the earthquake in the Gaziantep province. On the instructions of the head of the ministry, Aleksandr Kurenkov, a hundred specialists of the ministry’s Centrospasz air mobility unit were put on standby.
Russian rescue organizations have already participated in post-earthquake work in Turkey. The most serious of the disasters so far happened in 1999.
The command of the Russian forces stationed in Syria announced that the earthquake did not cause any damage to the Russian military facilities there.
Katalin Novák expressed her condolences to the families of the victims affected by the earthquake in Turkey
The President of the Republic, Katalin Novák, expressed her condolences to the families of the victims affected by the earthquake in Turkey, the Sándor Palace told MTI on Monday.
According to the information, in a letter sent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Katalin Novák assured the relatives of the victims and the Turkish people of her sympathy.
It was also announced that Hungary offered immediate help for the rescue work.
NATO and EU leaders assured Turkey and Syria of their support
The leaders of the European Union and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg assured Turkey and Syria of their support for the earthquake, and the EU announced that EU rescue teams have already left for the region.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, expressed his solidarity in his Twitter message and announced that the allies are mobilizing support for Turkey, which was hit by the earthquake.
“We express our full solidarity with our ally, Turkey, following the terrible earthquake,” said the NATO Secretary General, adding that he had contacted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu.
In her message, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed the EU’s full solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria. He said: European support is already on its way to the region. The EU is ready to provide additional assistance, added the president of the EU Commission.
In his message, Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, which brings together the leaders of the member states, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery. Finally, he expressed the solidarity of the European Union.
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, emphasized in her message that Europe stands by the people of Turkey and Syria in these difficult moments.
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, wrote: the EU is ready to help and sympathizes with the people of Turkey and Syria.
Janez Lenarcic, the EU commissioner responsible for crisis management, said in a Twitter message that following the morning earthquake, the European Union activated the EU civil protection mechanism and is coordinating the dispatch of rescue teams from Europe through its emergency coordination center. The rescue units of the Netherlands and Romania are already on their way, added the EU Commissioner.
Several strong earthquakes rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, the largest earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. The earthquake has killed hundreds of people and injured thousands in both Turkey and Syria.
Péter Szijjártó: Hungary offered its help in the rescue after the earthquake in Turkey
Hungary offered its help in the rescue after the earthquake in Turkey, so if the local authorities require it, a unit of 50 people will immediately set out to help search for survivors, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced on Monday.
According to the ministry’s statement, the head of the ministry expressed concern about the news coming from Turkey, according to which hundreds of people lost their lives and thousands were injured in the earthquake that shook ten provinces.
“The Turkish nation is a friend of Hungary and the Hungarian nation. It is natural that we stand by our Turkish friends even in this trouble, and we help in whatever way we can,” he stated.
“The Minister of the Interior contacted his Turkish counterpart, and Hungary offered a unit with significant experience in search and rescue,” he added.
Péter Szijjártó reported that this unit is ready to go, and if the Turks indicate their willingness to receive and where they expect help, then the team will set off immediately.
“We hope that these efforts will be successful and that we will be able to prevent a large increase in the number of victims, because in such cases, after a large earthquake, there is always the danger that those under the ruins cannot be rescued in time,” he pointed out.
Therefore, Hungary is ready to help, and if the Turks indicate their readiness and need for this, the Hungarian rescue team will immediately start to provide assistance to our Turkish friends – concluded the minister.
Erdogan: there are at least 912 dead from the earthquakes
At least 912 people died and 5,385 were injured in the early morning earthquakes in Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a press conference held at the disaster management center in Ankara on Monday.
The Turkish head of state reported that at least 2,818 buildings collapsed as a result of the earthquakes, while 2,470 people have been rescued from the ruins so far. About 9,000 people are involved in the rescue work, but their number is constantly increasing, Erdogan said, adding that 45 countries have offered help so far.
In his speech, Erdogan stated: the current one is the most serious natural disaster since the Erzincan earthquake of 1939, in which tens of thousands lost their lives in Eastern Turkey.
Viktor Orbán: Hungary stands by Turkey at this tragic moment
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his condolences in a letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the victims of the early morning earthquake and the damage suffered, and offered Hungary’s help – Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s press chief, informed MTI on Monday.
“It is with deep shock and regrets that I learned about the devastating earthquake that struck the southern part of Turkey, which caused significant material damage and human loss. I would also like to confirm to you that Hungary stands by Turkey at this tragic moment,” Viktor Orbán wrote.
“On this sad occasion, I express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured, at the same time I express my hope that the Hungarian offer can contribute to the success of the rescue work,” concluded Viktor Orbán in his letter to the Turkish president.
Serbia is sending two aid teams to Turkey
Serbia is sending two rescue teams to Turkey to help the victims of the earthquake, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Monday.
The teams of twelve each, as well as liaison officers, will be tasked with clearing the ruins, moving heavy debris, rescue and search.
The Serbian president expressed his condolences to the Turkish people and said that Serbia is ready to provide all the necessary assistance to the disaster-stricken country.
Several strong earthquakes rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, the largest earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale. The earthquake has killed more than a thousand people and injured thousands in both Turkey and Syria.
Romania is sending a qualified search and rescue unit to Turkey
The Romanian disaster management is sending its special unit trained for the search and rescue of survivors (RO-USAR) to Turkey to help the local authorities in rescuing the victims of the earthquake, the Romanian authorities announced on Monday.
RO-USAR soldiers, two search dogs, doctors and assistants of the emergency rescue service (SMURD), which helps in the search and rescue of survivors trapped under the rubble and has the necessary equipment, were sent by the Romanian Air Force in a Helcules C-130 and a C-27 Spartan military his plane transports him to Adana, Turkey.
The nine university students and their teachers who stayed in a hotel in the earthquake-hit Kahramanmaras and requested consular assistance from the Romanian embassy in Ankara will be brought home from Turkey on one of the military planes that will leave for Turkey early Monday afternoon.
After activating the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the Bucharest government decided to send its 58-member search and rescue team to Turkey, where the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that claimed the lives of more than a thousand people occurred on Monday morning. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and President Klaus Iohannis also expressed their solidarity and sympathy to the Turkish people in a Twitter message on Monday.
The Czech Republic sends ambulances to Turkey
The Czech Republic is sending a special rescue team of 68 people to Turkey, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky announced on Twitter on Monday morning.
According to his announcement, the group of experienced rescuers will be assembled from members of the fire departments of Prague and the Moravian-Silesian region with appropriate equipment, and is expected to fly to Turkey in the afternoon. The Turkish side has already confirmed their reception – said the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Czech rescue team specializes in searching for survivors under the ruins of collapsed buildings, and also worked in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2020. The rescue team also carries specially trained dogs.
The Czech civil sector also moved, which immediately announced a collection to help the earthquake-stricken regions of Turkey and Syria.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prague knows that a Czech tourist group of about fifty members is staying in the part of Turkey affected by the earthquake, but no one was hurt. The tourists have already contacted the Czech Embassy in Ankara, which is organizing their departure from the endangered area.
Czech President Milos Zeman, Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky sent condolences.
Péter Szijjártó: the Hungarian embassy in Ankara was temporarily evacuated
The temporary evacuation of the Hungarian embassy in Ankara was ordered following the earthquake in Turkey; In the evening, the government will send a unit of 50 people to the area affected by the disaster, thus helping the search for possible additional survivors – Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, announced on Monday.
In his recent briefing, the head of the ministry underlined that this was certainly the second most serious earthquake in Turkey, and since then, reports of minor aftershocks have been continuously coming from various parts of the country, including from the capital.
Péter Szijjártó stated that he recently spoke with his Turkish colleague, Mevlüt Cavusoglu, to whom he expressed his condolences and indicated that Hungary remains ready to provide all assistance in the search for survivors, care for the wounded and restoration of damaged infrastructure.
He said that the earthquake was also felt at the Hungarian embassy in Ankara, so the head of the diplomatic mission ordered the temporary evacuation of the building. A static engineer will arrive on site soon to inspect the condition of the building.
“In addition, we informed the Hungarian citizens staying in Turkey, of whom 213 applied for consular protection, which areas of the country they should not visit. We are currently aware of one Hungarian person who is staying in the area affected by the disaster, and we are in constant contact with him,” he informed.
“I would like to respectfully request that if there is a Hungarian citizen who you know is in the area affected by the disaster, please let them know, either to the consular service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or to our embassy in Ankara. there is no person,” he added.
The minister also announced that the Győr ETO women’s handball team is currently in Turkey, the embassy is in constant contact with them, and they will be traveling home from Istanbul in the evening. Also, Ferencváros’ age group football team is still in training camp, and they are scheduled to arrive home in the second half of the week, and we are in constant contact with them.
During the evening, the research and rescue team of fifty people, including six doctors, which was established under the coordination of the National Directorate General of Disaster Prevention, will leave for Turkey – he pointed out.
“The Turkish side thanked us and accepted our offer, as the most important task now is to find those trapped under the ruins in time and rescue them alive,” he emphasized.
“In addition, we have already contacted several civilian or aid research and rescue medical units, we have reported their capacities and abilities to the Turkish embassy in Budapest, saying that we will, of course, immediately send whatever forces and help they need,” he said.
Péter Szijjártó pointed out that the earthquake was also devastating in the areas of Syria, several Christian communities with which the Hungarian government has a relationship suffered serious damage.
“Of course, we will keep their support on the agenda in the coming days, and we will implement it,” he stated.
The German government is mobilizing the disaster prevention service
The German government is mobilizing the federal disaster protection service, which provides assistance in close cooperation with local authorities in the rescue after the earthquakes in the southeastern part of Turkey, it was announced in Berlin on Monday.
The service (Technisches Hilfswerk – THW) supports the Turkish civil defense with all possible means, among other things it can set up camps with water purification equipment, and it has already started assembling the first aid shipments, with which, among other things, power generation equipment, tents and blankets will arrive to the victims of the disaster zone – announced Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser.
Cem Özdemir, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture – the first German federal minister of Turkish origin – expressed his condolences to the relatives of the victims in a video message in Turkish and German. “We mourn the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria,” said the politician of the Greens.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz sent a telegram of condolence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stressing Germany’s readiness to help in the crisis.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a similar statement, emphasizing that Germany provides support together with its partners, and quickly.
The largest German civil aid organizations launched fundraising campaigns just a few hours after the first tremors, and began spreading their appeals with the help of public service media companies.
Several strong earthquakes rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, the largest earthquake reaching a magnitude of 7.8 according to some measurements. The earthquake has killed hundreds of people and injured thousands in both Turkey and Syria.
Spain is sending two emergency rescue units to Turkey
Spain is expected to send two emergency rescue units to Turkey later in the day, so that their experts can help with the rescue after the earthquakes, the Minister of Defense announced in a statement to journalists in Madrid on Monday.
Margarita Robles said: two planes of the Spanish Air Force are transporting the team of almost a hundred people, specially trained for search and rescue, of which 35 members belong to the fire department of the province of Madrid, and 56 members belong to the emergency military unit of the army.
The Spanish rescue units are involved in the rescue in Turkey within the framework of the cooperation realized through the European Civil Protection Mechanism and join the other international rescue teams.
The Minister of Defense also reported that the 150 Spanish soldiers serving at the Incirlik Air Base in the Turkish territory affected by the disaster are doing well.
Several strong earthquakes rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, the largest earthquake reaching a magnitude of 7.8 according to some measurements. The earthquake has killed hundreds of people and injured thousands in both Turkey and Syria.
The Baptist Charity Service sends a rescue team to Turkey
The special rescue team of the Baptist Charity will leave for Turkey on Monday evening.
In a statement sent to MTI on Monday, the charity service wrote: the HUBA Rescue24 International Fire and Rescue Team and a medical team providing emergency care will depart from Ferenc Liszt Airport under the direction of Commander László Pavelcze, director of emergency management, after the Turkish authorities requested international help.
The team has already assembled its approximately two-ton equipment and contacted the Turkish colleagues with whom the specialists of the Hungarian rescue organization had previously worked – they indicated.
Márk Szabó, one of the members of the traveling team, told MTI by phone: they are leaving with 19, mainly research-rescue and medical professionals, as well as seven rescue dogs.
According to his information, the members of the rescue team are constantly informed about the conditions on the ground from international sources, they also take a larger inflatable tent and power generators with them. They expect seven to ten days of work, the first period of which will be spent on research, and after that they will help with health care, he added.
The special rescue team of the Baptist Charity Service worked in Turkey in 1999 and 2001, at the site of the earthquakes at that time.
At dawn on Monday, several strong earthquakes shook the southeastern part of Turkey and the northern part of Syria. According to some measurements, the largest earthquake reached a magnitude of 7.8. The earthquake has killed hundreds of people and injured thousands in both Turkey and Syria.
The team of the rescue organization Hunor has left for Turkey
The team of the rescue organization Hunor left Budapest for Turkey on Monday to help the victims of the earthquake.
Bence Rétvári, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, emphasized at the farewell of the research and rescue unit of the National Directorate General of Disaster Management: the speed of assistance is a very important factor in such a disaster situation. The faster help arrives, the more lives can be saved. This is all the more important, because according to the news, more than a thousand people fell victim to the disaster that happened at dawn on Monday, and the number of injured can be put at five to six thousand, he said.
He reminded that the Hunor rescue unit was established 11 years ago and since then the Hungarian disaster management has proven worldwide that it is one of the most prepared rescue organizations in the world. They provided assistance in disaster situations in, among others, Serbia, Macedonia and Japan, he listed.
The activity of the “elite structure” of the Hungarian disaster protection will also strengthen the Hungarian-Turkish friendship – believed Bence Rétvári, who thanked the members of the unit for their position.
It was also announced at the event that the rescue unit leaving for Turkey has 55 members, and in addition to firefighters, military doctors and rescue service staff also take part in the work. They also bring search dogs with them.
The personnel and 90 tons of equipment are transported by the Airbus 319 of the Hungarian Armed Forces from Liszt Ferenc Airport to Adana Airport in Turkey. After their arrival, the Turkish disaster management will manage the activities of the Hungarian rescue team.
The equipment of the Hunor ensures the self-sufficiency of the rescue unit for 10 days, that is, they do not have to use the resources of the local disaster management, they said.
Turkey requested international assistance through the European Emergency Management Centre.
The United States is sending more rescue units to Turkey
The United States is sending two more rescue units to Turkey to help search and rescue after the earthquake, the coordinator of the White House National Security Council said on Monday.
John Kirby said at a press conference that the United States is closely cooperating with Turkey, and that after the natural disaster, high-ranking American officials immediately contacted their Turkish partners to discuss forms of assistance. He drew attention to the fact that the president had authorized the immediate granting of all support. The White House official also said that negotiations are ongoing with the Turkish side, but the situation is changing very quickly, to which they are also trying to adapt with additional support.
In addition to the American rescue and research units already on the ground, they are preparing to send two more rescue teams to help the Turkish units – emphasized John Kirby, and added that the US international aid organization, USAID, and the Ministry of Defense are also negotiating separately with their Turkish partners about further about subsidies.
As for aid in Syria, the United States can provide aid there through the aid organizations it supports, John Kirby pointed out. The United States does not currently have diplomatic relations with Syria.
The coordinator of the White House National Security Council has confirmed the condolences of the United States to Turkey and Syria in the wake of the devastating earthquake.
Several strong earthquakes rocked southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, the largest earthquake reaching a magnitude of 7.8 according to some measurements. There are currently more than 2,600 dead and more than 1,300 injured in the two countries.
MTI
Photo: Photo: Several strong earthquakes shook the southeastern part of Turkey and northern Syria, the largest earthquake reached a magnitude of 7.8 according to the Richter scale, its epicenter was 18 kilometers deep, approximately 33 kilometers from Gaziantep. The earthquake has killed hundreds of people and injured thousands in both Turkey and Syria.
