Rescue teams from around the world go to Syria and Turkey
Search and rescue teams from around the world have been deployed to Turkey and Syria following a devastating earthquake. The 7.8-magnitude quake, which struck at 04:00 local time on Monday 6 February near the southern Turkish city of Gaziantep, has so far killed more than 4,800 people in the country and neighbouring Syria, reports Euronews.
"We stand in full solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria after the deadly earthquake. We mourn with the families of the victims," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "Europe's support is already on its way and we stand ready to continue to help in any way we can," she added.
Urban search and rescue teams from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Malta and Slovakia have also offered their help, the European Commission said.
Russia has also sent more than 300 troops to Syria to help with debris clearance and search and rescue operations in Syria following Monday's devastating earthquake and aftershocks in the country, the Russian defence ministry reported in a statement on Monday, cited by CNN. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised assistance to Turkey and Syria.
Israel said it might send search and rescue teams and medical personnel to both Turkey and Syria.
Ukraine provided Turkey with assistance in carrying out rescue operations, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski stated in his evening video address, Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reports.
India has also sent a first specialised rescue team to Turkey. The Indian Air Force announced that a C-17 strategic transport aircraft has taken off for Turkey, "carrying search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force".
Planes carrying humanitarian aid from Iraq and Iran have landed at Damascus international airport in Syria, reported Syrian state media SANA. Iranian aid arrived on Monday and Iraqi aid was delivered early Tuesday morning, SANA said. Mahdi Ghanem, an official with the Iraqi foreign ministry, told SANA that each plane was carrying about 70 tonnes of food, medical supplies, blankets and other goods needed by the evacuees.
At the same time, the US announced that it has one of the best earthquake search and rescue teams in Turkey. The Los Angeles Fire Department in the United States has sent 78 members of its Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team to Turkey, the department announced in a press release.
The USAR disaster response convoy departed for Turkey at 9 p.m. Monday evening on wheels. Specialists decided to travel by land, as it is important that the 12 vehicles, designed for intervention in such disasters, are on the scene as soon as possible. The crew consists of 55 rescuers and 2 search dogs.
