No Pinoy fatalities; Philippines ready to help

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine embassy in Ankara said no Filipino was reported killed in the earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border early yesterday.

“The embassy continues to reach out to the Filipino communities and its other contacts in the region and, as of this writing, has not received reports of Filipino casualties in the provinces of Gaziantep, Hatay, Adana and Mersin,” the embassy said in a statement.

President Marcos offered his condolences and support to the governments of Turkey and Syria after a powerful earthquake rocked the region Monday, killing over 1,300 people.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to the peoples and governments of Türkiye and Syria following the strong earthquake that has claimed many lives and caused massive destruction to their countries. The Philippines is ready to help in whatever way it can in responding to this disaster,” Marcos said in a post on Twitter.

The embassy will continue to monitor the situation of Filipinos affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and stands ready to provide assistance.

The total number of Filipinos in Turkey is currently

estimated at 4,006, based on the latest official statistics, mostly concentrated in Istanbul in the northwest.

The embassy said it is ready to assist Filipinos affected by the earthquake and may be reached via telephone and WhatsApp (+905345772344) and via email at [email protected].

“The Philippine embassy in Ankara extends its deepest condolences to the people of the Republic of Türkiye who lost their lives in the devastating earthquake in Gaziantep,” the embassy said.

“We wish for the speedy recovery of the wounded and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims,” it said.

The earthquake hit the southeastern region of Turkey, 23 kilometers east of Nurda??, Gaziantep located along the Turkey-Syria Border early Monday.

The death toll from one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Turkey exceeded 500 people.

It was Turkey’s most severe quake since 1999, when one of similar magnitude devastated Izmit and the heavily populated eastern Marmara Sea region near Istanbul, killing more than 17,000.

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