India Stands In Solidarity With Turkey, Says PM Modi As World Offers Aid After Devastating Earthquake

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 magnitudes on the Richter scale struck south-eastern Turkey near the Syrian border, leading to 568 deaths in Turkey and Syria.

File Photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey as he expressed his condolences for those who lost their loved ones in the earthquake. A Turkish official said the death toll from the earthquake is now at 284, bringing the overall death toll in Turkey and Syria to 568, news agency AP reported.

He tweeted, "India was ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with the tragedy."

"Anguished by the loss of lives and damage of property due to the Earthquake in Turkey. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey and is ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy", PM Modi tweeted. 

Anguished by the loss of lives and damage of property due to the Earthquake in Turkey. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey and is ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy. https://t.co/vYYJWiEjDQ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2023

On Monday, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 magnitudes on the Richter scale struck south-eastern Turkey near the Syrian border, Interior Minister Suleymon Soylu has confirmed, adding that the tremor was also felt in Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus.

Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar said that the news of the earthquake in Türkiye was deeply distressing.

"Deeply distressed by the loss of lives and damage in the earthquake in Türkiye. Have conveyed to FM @MevlutCavusoglu our condolences and support at this difficult time", Jaishankar tweeted.

Deeply distressed by the loss of lives and damage in the earthquake in Türkiye.

Have conveyed to FM @MevlutCavusoglu our condolences and support at this difficult time. https://t.co/5CTIPqFK4X

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 6, 2023

US President Joe Biden has asked US Agency for International Development and other federal government partners to assess the country's response options to help those most affected, said the White House on Monday. 

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a tweet informed, "The U.S. is profoundly concerned by today’s destructive earthquake in Turkiye & Syria. I have been in touch with Turkish officials to relay that we stand ready to provide any & all needed assistance. We will continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye."

The U.S. is profoundly concerned by today’s destructive earthquake in Turkiye & Syria. I have been in touch with Turkish officials to relay that we stand ready to provide any & all needed assistance. We will continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye.

— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) February 6, 2023

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also offered his condolences and tweeted in Turkish, "The news of this great earthquake that hit southeast Turkey was deeply upsetting. I extend my deepest condolences to my brother President Erdogan and the brotherly people of Turkey for the loss of life and property."

Türkiye'nin güneydoğusunu vuran bu büyük deprem haberi derinden üzdü. Yaşanan can ve mal kayıpları nedeniyle kardeşim Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan'a ve kardeş Türkiye halkına en derin başsağlığı dileklerimi iletiyorum. 🇹🇷

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 6, 2023

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Galant said he ordered the Israel Defence Force and Ministry of Defence to prepare to provide emergency aid to the affected areas. 

"Following the earthquake that struck Turkey tonight, I ordered the IDF and the Ministry of Defense to prepare immediately to provide emergency aid through the rescue units of the Home Front Command", he said in a tweet in hebrew.

Meanwhile, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed his condolences to "all citizens who were affected by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş".

"I convey my condolences to all our citizens who were affected by the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş and was felt in many parts of our country. All our relevant units are on alert under the coordination of AFAD," he wrote.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in his tweet said that the search and rescue operations are underway.

"All relevant institutions continue their detection, search and rescue efforts. We hope to overcome this disaster with the least damage," he tweeted in Turkish.