At least 3 US citizens dead in Türkiye earthquakes

By Servet Gunerigok and Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - At least three US citizens have been killed in earthquakes that hit southern Türkiye earlier this week, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday.

"We can confirm reports of at least three U.S. citizens killed in southeastern Türkiye," said the spokesperson. "Our staff in Türkiye and here in the United States are working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to these victims and their family members."

The spokesperson said the agency is "working closely with local authorities and other partner organizations to assist any U.S. citizens in the affected areas.

"We offer our sincerest condolences to the victims and to the families of all of those affected," the spokesperson added.

At least 17,134 people have been killed and 70,347 injured after two strong earthquakes jolted southern Türkiye on Monday, according to the latest figures.

The quakes were also felt in several countries in the region, including Lebanon and Syria.