Anadolu Agency Staff
06 February 2023•Update: 07 February 2023
ISTANBUL
Arab countries extended their condolences to Türkiye and Syria on Monday over deadly earthquakes there that left thousands dead.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southern Türkiye's Kahramanmaras province early Monday and another magnitude 7.6 quake hit the same area in the afternoon, killing at least 2,379 people and injuring 14,483 others, said Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
In Syria, government and rescue officials reported that nearly 1,300 people were killed and over 2,400 others were wounded in the quakes.
Egypt conveyed its sincere condolences and expressed solidarity with Türkiye and Syria for the victims of the devastating quakes.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry affirmed Egypt’s readiness to provide help in the face of the catastrophe.
The head of Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, expressed sympathy with Türkiye and Syria over the earthquakes.
“I extend my condolences to the families of the victims and wish a quick recovery to the wounded,” Barzani said in a statement.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also extended its condolences over the strong quakes, which caused massive destruction in both countries.
Ahmed Al-Deek, a political adviser to the foreign minister, said: "The Palestinian Embassy in Damascus reported the collapse of two buildings in Al-Raml camp in Lattakia and a retaining wall in Al-Neirab camp in Aleppo, which led to the killing of eight citizens, including three children."
The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Türkiye issued a statement saying it was following up on the earthquakes that hit southern Türkiye and that it was in contact with the relevant authorities to check on Omani citizens.
Jordan's King Abdullah II also conveyed his condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of the earthquakes.
In a phone call with Erdogan, King Abdullah expressed his condolences for those who lost their lives in the quakes and wished a quick recovery to the injured, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry expressed in a statement "its warmest condolences and sincere sympathy to the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Türkiye for the victims of the earthquake that occurred at dawn Monday and resulted in a number of victims and injuries."
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made a phone call to President Erdogan and "expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies" and also "offered his support and solidarity, wishing for a speedy recovery for those who were injured," according to state news agency WAM.
Saudi Arabia said it was closely following "the course of the unfortunate events in Türkiye and Syria amid the deadly earthquake" and expressed "solidarity, sympathy and condolences to the brothers in Syria and Türkiye."
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry expressed its condolences to Türkiye and Syria for the victims of the quakes and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati offered his condolences to the two countries as well, saying that his government was following up on the possibility of sending rescue teams to support the two nations.
Tunisian President Kais Saied also released a message of solidarity and condolence to the peoples of Türkiye and Syria, his office said in a written statement.
"Tunisia is in full solidarity with its brothers in Syria and Türkiye after the earthquake that took place in the morning and caused great human and material loss. We pray that Almighty Allah will protect both peoples," he said.
Saied said he had ordered emergency aid to be delivered to the two countries, adding that the assistance would be delivered by military aircraft.
Libya’s Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh also conveyed his condolences to President Erdogan in the wake of the earthquakes.
In a phone call with Erdogan, Dbeibeh expressed his condolences for those who lost their lives in the quakes and wished a quick recovery to the injured, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement.
*Ahmed Asmar, Ikram Imane Kouachi and Zehra Nur Duz contributed to this report
