The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a note in which it expresses solidarity and condolences to the peoples of Turkey and Syria, and to the victims of the earthquakes that left at least 1,600 people dead, in addition to “thousands of injured people” and incalculable material damage. .
Itamaraty informed that it is following “with great concern” the information about the earthquake that affected the two countries with greater intensity this morning (6). “The Brazilian government is providing ways to offer humanitarian aid to the populations affected by the earthquake”, says the note.
According to the folder, so far, there is no news of dead or injured Brazilians. “Brazil’s embassies in Ankara and Damascus, as well as the Brazilian consulate general in Istanbul, are monitoring developments in the region on an on-call basis,” he added.
Earlier, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sympathized with the victims. “We look with concern at the news coming out of Turkey and Syria, after the earthquake of great magnitude. Brazil expresses its solidarity with the peoples of both countries, with the families of the victims and all those who lost their homes in this tragedy”, said Lula through social networks.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which hit early in the morning, was the worst to hit Turkey this century. It was also felt in Cyprus and Lebanon. Rescue teams operating in a bitter winter were pulling victims from the rubble across the region. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said 45 countries had offered to help with search and rescue efforts.
In Syria, already ravaged by more than 11 years of civil war, the health ministry said at least 326 people had died and 1,042 were injured. In the Syrian rebel-held northwest, rescue workers said 147 people had died.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake occurred at a depth of 17.9 kilometers and reported a series of earthquakes, one of magnitude 6.7. The region crosses seismic faults.
