As massive earthquakes wreaked havoc in Turkiye on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered all possible support from India for the relief and rescue mission in the affected country.
On Monday, a 7.7- magnitude earthquake hit Turkiye and Syria early in the morning, leaving many buildings in ruins, killing hundreds of people who were sleeping, and leaving many more trapped under the rubble.
A second massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Turkiye's Kahramanmaras province, resulting in hundreds more people trapped under the rubble. The overall death toll is expected to rise.
According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the earthquake was the most powerful since 1939, when almost 33,000 people died and about 100,000 were injured.
Modi Extends Condolences, Offers Assistance
Prime Minister Modi took to social media to grieve the loss of life, saying that India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkiye.
Addressing the people at the India Energy Week 2023 event in Bengaluru city in Karnataka state, Modi said that the sympathies of India's 1.4 billion people are with all those affected by the quake.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extend all possible help to Turkey after the deadly earthquake
© Photo : Twitter/@narendramodi
Several other countries, including Russia, have come forward and offered assistance in the relief and rescue mission.
"Dear Mr. President, I would like to express my most sincere condolences in connection with the tragic consequences of the earthquake that occurred in the northern regions of Syria. We share the sorrow and pain for those who lost their loved ones, we hope for the speedy recovery of all the victims and are ready to provide the necessary assistance in eliminating the consequences of this natural disaster," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Russia has sent two Il-76 aircraft with “all the necessary knowledge and equipment” to Syria to help eliminate the consequences of the powerful earthquake, a source in the country's military told Sputnik.
"The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia is always ready to come to the aid of a friendly state whose citizens find themselves in a difficult situation,” Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov said in a statement.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took to Twitter and praised the first responders in Turkiye and Syria for “working so valiantly to save those trapped” amid the destruction of the disaster.
Tremors Felt Across Region, Cities Destroyed & Cultural Sites Damaged
New tremors were felt in Damascus, Latakia, and a number of other provinces in Syria, and they were also reported in Iraq, even reaching as far as Georgia.
In total, Turkiye has recorded as many as 80 aftershocks after the initial earthquake on early Monday morning.
As a result of the earthquake, an ancient castle in Gaziantep, Turkiye, dating back thousands of years, was destroyed.
The Citadel of Aleppo, a large medieval fortified palace listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was damaged as a result of the powerful earthquake, the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums of Syria told Sputnik.
Operations at Syria's largest oil refinery in the city of Baniyas have been suspended due to damage to equipment caused by the quake.
In the wake of the tragedy, Turkish lawmakers decided to suspend the parliament's work for one week.
Hatay Airport in Turkiye's southeastern city of Antakya also halted operations after the runway was destructed as a result of the massive quake.