Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria: Nepal expresses grief, solidarity

More than 1,300 people have been killed and thousands injured in Turkey and northwest Syria, according to the latest report.

NL Today

  • Read Time 2 min.

Kathmandu: Nepali political leaders, including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, have expressed grief over the loss of lives in the devastating earthquakes which shook parts of Turkey and Syria on Monday.

More than 1,300 people have been killed and thousands injured after the earthquake struck central Turkey and northwest Syria, collapsing apartment blocks and heaping more destruction on Syrian cities already devastated by years of war, according to the update by Reuters. “The magnitude 7.8 quake, which hit in the early darkness of a winter morning, was the worst to hit Turkey this century. It was also felt in Cyprus and Lebanon,” Reuters reported.

PM Dahal, on behalf of the Nepal government and Nepali people, paid tribute to the departed ones and expressed condolences to the bereaved people in the Turkey earthquake, according to the PM’s secretariat.

Former Prime Minister and President of Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba has also expressed grief and support. “The Turkey and Syria earthquake has caused immense loss and grief,” Deuba wrote on Twitter. “I encourage everyone to support the governments in their efforts to aid those affected & provide comfort to the families of the victims. Let us pay tribute to those who have lost their lives & offer our condolences.”

Likewise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also expressed condolences and solidarity with Turkey. “Our heartfelt condolences on the loss of precious lives and wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured people. At this hour of difficulty, we stand in solidarity with Türkiye,” reads the message posted by MoFA on its Twitter page.

Turkey was one of the countries to provide much-needed support to Nepal when the devastating earthquakes ravaged the country, killing 9000 people and causing massive destruction of houses and infrastructures back in April, 2015. In the aftermath of the earthquakes, Turkey had sent rescue staff, search and rescue experts, equipment and humanitarian aid.

(Photo courtesy: BBC)