Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) promised Turkey further help after the terrible earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border region that killed thousands.
During a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the chancellor promised “further comprehensive support to deal with this disaster,” said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Tuesday evening in Berlin.
After the earthquake on Monday, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had already announced that the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) was preparing to deliver emergency generators, tents and blankets. On Wednesday night, a 50-strong THW team wanted to fly to Turkey on behalf of the federal government.
During the conversation on Tuesday afternoon, Scholz conveyed “his heartfelt condolences to the death of numerous people” to the President. Erdogan appreciated the international support.
Total number of earthquake victims rises to more than 7,100
After the devastating earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border area, the death toll in Turkey has risen to more than 5,400. As the Turkish civil protection authority announced, 5434 fatalities were recovered in Turkey by Tuesday evening.
In Syria, the number of victims was 1712. This increases the total number of fatalities in Turkey and Syria to more than 7100. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Turkish-Syrian border area early Monday morning. In the hours that followed, the region was shaken by more than 50 aftershocks.
Since a number of people are still buried, a further significant increase in the number of victims is expected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to 23 million people in Turkey and Syria could be affected by the earthquake. (dpa)
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Source: Tagesspiegel
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