BRUSSELS/ATHENS Feb 6 -rescue groups to Turkey to help in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in this country, the European Commission said in a statement.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 occurred at 04.17 in the province of Kahramanmaras in Turkey and led to destruction in a number of cities. Damage was also reported in several regions of Syria, and the earthquake was also felt in the Lebanese capital Beirut. There are reports of hundreds of deaths in Turkey and Syria.
«The European Emergency Response Center is in direct contact with the Turkish authorities to coordinate additional support if necessary,» the EC said.
According to the European Commission, search and rescue teams were sent from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania. Italy and Hungary offered their help.
According to European Commission spokesman Balazs Uivari, no requests for assistance have been received from Syria so far. If such requests are received, the EU is ready to consider them.
He recalled that the EU provides assistance through humanitarian organizations, and not directly to the Syrian authorities.
Greece is immediately sending rescuers and aid to deal with the consequences of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Greek government spokesman Yiannis Ikonomou said at a briefing.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis immediately announced his readiness to provide assistance and expressed condolences in connection with the devastating earthquakes. «Greece is fully prepared to respond to the requests of two states and two peoples by sending immediate assistance to combat the consequences of this disaster. Contacts are already being made through official and diplomatic channels. Greece will be the first country to provide assistance. Efforts are being made to have a plane fly out during the day C-130 with the rescuers of the EMAK detachment (a special unit for combating the consequences of natural disasters of the fire service), with the ambulance service, with humanitarian and medical materials,» Ikonomu said.
A powerful earthquake in Turkey and Syria
An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred on Monday night in the Turkish province of Kahramanmarash.
1 of 12
An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred on Monday night in the Turkish province of Kahramanmarash.
The epicenter of the tremors was located 27 kilometers from Gaziantep, whose population exceeds one million people.
2 of 12
The epicenter of the tremors was located 27 kilometers from Gaziantep, whose population exceeds a million people.
Three dozen aftershocks followed, the most powerful one with a magnitude of 6.6.
3 out of 12
Three dozen aftershocks followed, the most powerful one with a magnitude of 6.6.
In Syria, the historical center of Aleppo was badly damaged. Tremors were also felt in Beirut and Iraq.
4 of 12
The historical center in Syria was badly damaged Aleppo. Tremors were also felt in Beirut and Iraq.
"The walls in our apartment cracked, we are now thinking of looking for a new home. There is severe destruction in Latakia,” said a resident of Syria. The walls of the apartment cracked, we are now thinking of looking for a new house. There is severe destruction in Latakia,” a resident of Syria said.
Thousands of buildings were destroyed in different cities. The photo shows a family near their home after the earthquake in Turkey.
6 of 12
Thousands of buildings were destroyed in different cities. The photo shows a family near their home after the earthquake in Turkey.
More than 1200 people became victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
7 out of 12
More than 1,200 people became victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
It is still impossible to predict the death toll , admitted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
8 out of 12
Predicting the death toll is still impossible, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged.
Erdogan called this earthquake the biggest natural disaster for Turkey since 1939.
9 of 12
Erdogan called this earthquake the biggest natural disaster for Turkey since 1939.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense is mobilizing all its units and formations to help the victims and eliminate the consequences of the emergency.
10 of 12
The Syrian Defense Ministry is mobilizing all its units and formations to help the victims and eliminate the consequences of the emergency.
Many countries expressed their condolences to Syria and Turkey and offered assistance.
11 of 12
Many countries expressed their condolences to Syria and Turkey and offered assistance.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry announced its readiness to send two planes with rescuers to Turkey.
12 out of 12
The Russian Emergencies Ministry announced its readiness to send two aircraft with rescuers to Turkey.
1 of 12
An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred on Monday night in the Turkish province of Kahramanmarash.
2 of 12
The epicenter of the tremors was located 27 kilometers from Gaziantep, whose population exceeds a million people.
3 of 12
Three dozen aftershocks followed, the most powerful one with a magnitude of 6.6.
4 of 12
In Syria, the historical center of Aleppo was badly damaged. Tremors were also felt in Beirut and Iraq.
5 of 12
"The walls in our apartment cracked, we are now thinking of looking for a new home. There is severe destruction in Latakia,” said a resident of Syria.
6 of 12
Thousands of buildings were destroyed in different cities. The photo shows a family near their home after the earthquake in Turkey.
7 out of 12
More than 1,200 people became victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
8 out of 12
Forecast The death toll is still impossible, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged.
9 out of 12
Erdogan called this earthquake the biggest natural disaster for Turkey since 1939.
10 out of 12
The Syrian Ministry of Defense is mobilizing all its units and formations to help the victims and eliminate the consequences of the emergency.
11 of 12
Many countries expressed their condolences to Syria and Turkey and offered assistance.
12 out of 12
The Russian Emergencies Ministry announced its readiness to send two planes with rescuers to Turkey.
According to him, a specialist in anti-seismic protection, president of the Organization for Planning and Protection against Earthquakes (OASP), Professor Efthymios Lenkas, is also participating in the mission.
The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection said that, by order of Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Greece immediately responded to Turkey's request to send aid to deal with the devastating consequences of a powerful earthquake.
«In particular, in the next few hours, a group of 21 firefighters from the 1st division of EMAK will fly out with two rescue dogs and a special vehicle. The team will be accompanied by a fire brigade engineer officer with experience in strengthening the ruins of collapsed buildings, five doctors and rescuers from EKAV (ambulance services), as well as the president of the OASP,» the statement said.
The mission will depart on a C-130 aircraft from Eleusis Airport.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have seriously deteriorated in recent years. However, in case of disasters, states provide assistance to each other.
A series of powerful earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 to 7.7 occurred in Turkey and Syria. Weak aftershocks were also felt in Georgia and Iraq. According to preliminary data, the number of victims of the natural disaster in Turkey is almost a thousand people, in the SAR — more than 370. Several thousand residents of both countries received injuries of varying severity.