Turkey’s Earthquake: Prayers and international help as death toll rises to thousands

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a briefing on the earthquake that hit Kahramanmaras and its neigbouring provinces by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority. The President said all state institutions went into action from the moment of the earthquake while local authorities had mobilised their means in their own provinces. Photo courtesy of official Twitter account of President Erdogan.

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 – The death toll from Turkey’s series of earthquakes and after shocks beginning Monday morning is expected to reach 20,000 according to local and international media.

This is the worst earthquake scenario that the country is facing, as another earthquake was reported to have hit the country Tuesday morning just as death toll had reached thousands from Monday’s quakes.

Meanwhile, help from many countries have started to pour in as Turkey declared an emergency and sought international help.

Malaysia’s National News Agency BERNAMA reported that 70 personnel from its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) had been dispatched to the country to help with search and rescue operations for victims of the earthquake.

This follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call to the Foreign Ministry and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Armizan Mohd Ali to take immediate action following the earthquakes that have devastated 10 regions of the country as well neighbouring Syria.

On Monday, Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah and the Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah called on all mosques and surau nationwide to hold Hajat prayers for the safety and rescue of those people still trapped under the rubbles of the earthquake as well as prayers for those who had died in the quake.

In the Istana Negara Facebook posting, Their Majesties extended their deepest condolences to the governments and people of Turkiye and Syria and their sympathies to the families of the people who perished in the earthquake.

“Their Majesties are saddened over the loss of lives in the tragedy and express hope that families of the victims will remain patient and calm in this trying moments.”

— WE