Canada, Mauritania, Lebanon, Montenegro send condolences to Türkiye over deadly earthquakes

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Canada, Mauritania, Lebanon and Montenegro extended condolences to Türkiye on Saturday for deadly earthquakes that left more than 40,000 dead in the southern region.

Montenegro's President Milo Dukanovic and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani "called Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone to offer their condolences for those who lost their lives in the earthquake," according to Türkiye's Communications Directorate

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau conveyed condolences during telephone calls with Erdogan, it added.

"The leaders voiced their support for Türkiye and their solidarity with the Turkish nation," it said.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh conveyed "his get well soon wishes over the earthquake."

At least 40,642 people have been killed and over 108,000 injured in two powerful earthquakes that rocked southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, according to the latest figures.

The 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Elazig and Sanliurfa. More than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the tremors that struck in less than 10 hours.