Caucasus, Central Asian countries express condolences over deadly quake in Türkiye

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia expressed their condolences and showed solidarity with Ankara on Monday as a strong earthquake hit southern Türkiye earlier in the day.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of the loss of life and destruction as a result of the severe earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaras, and felt in many parts of brotherly Türkiye,” President Ilham Aliyev said in a condolence message to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims of the earthquake to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu during a phone conversation, according to a statement by the ministry, noting that rescue forces consisting of 370 people will depart for Türkiye to support search and rescue operations.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also sent a message of condolence to Erdogan, according to the country’s presidential press service Akorda.

“It is with deep sorrow that I received the news of the death of a large number of people as a result of a powerful earthquake in the Republic of Türkiye. At this difficult moment, on behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and on my own behalf, I express my condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the entire fraternal Turkish people,” Tokayev said.

The statement also noted that Tokayev also offered assistance to Türkiye.

Elsewhere, the Georgian Foreign Ministry released a statement expressing Tbilisi’s condolences to Türkiye and its people.

“We are truly devastated by the news of a deadly earthquake in Kahramanmaras, Türkiye. We extend our sincere condolences to the government and people of Türkiye and wish a speedy recovery to all affected,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also sent condolences to Erdogan on behalf of his country, according to the Uzbek presidency, which also noted Mirziyoyev conveyed “words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the victims.”

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry also released a statement expressing its condolences to the families and friends of the deceased, further wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

“As of 11:00 a.m. (0600GMT) on Feb. 6, 2023, the diplomatic missions of our country in Türkiye have not received any information about dead or injured citizens of Uzbekistan as a result of the earthquake,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev sent a letter of condolence to Cavusoglu, initially released by the Kyrgyz Embassy in Ankara.

"I was deeply saddened by the news of the earthquake that occurred in several provinces of Türkiye. I express my condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives, wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured, and wish the Turkish people to get out of the current difficult situation as soon as possible," the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said in an statement.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also expressed condolences to the families of the earthquake victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, adding that Yerevan is ready to provide assistance.

At least 284 people were killed and 2,323 others injured after a strong earthquake jolted southern Türkiye on Monday morning, according to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.

Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the 7.4 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district in Türkiye’s southern province of Kahramanmaras.

The quake occurred at a depth of seven kilometers (4.3 miles).