France to dispatch rescuers to Türkiye after deadly powerful earthquakes

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – France will dispatch first aiders to Türkiye to attend rescue operations in the wake of devastating earthquakes that hit the country's south on Monday, the country's interior minister said.

"As requested by the president (Emmanuel Macron), 139 civil protection first aiders will go to Turkey this evening as part of the European solidarity mechanism," Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter.

He added that France "stands in full solidarity with Turkey in these terrible circumstances."

At least 1,121 people were killed and 7,634 others injured when two powerful earthquakes hit southern Türkiye's Kahramanmaras province, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

The first magnitude 7.7 tremor struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras and heavily affected several other provinces, according to AFAD.

The earthquake was also felt in several countries in the region, including Lebanon and Syria.

It was followed by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at 1.24 p.m. (1024GMT), centered in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras.

At least 783 people were killed and 2,284 others injured in Syria from the quakes, according to figures compiled from the regime's Health Ministry and Syrian Civil Defense.