Hamas condoles with Turkey on avalanches, plane crash

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) - Hamas offered condolences Thursday for recent deadly incidents in Turkey.

"Palestinian people are deeply saddened by the avalanches in Van and the plane crash in Istanbul yesterday,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said on Twitter. “We wish God's mercy on our Turkish brothers who lost their lives in these accidents, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

The message came as authorities said the death toll rose to 41 from two avalanches earlier this week in eastern Turkey.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said 75 people were injured as search and rescue efforts are ongoing.

The first avalanche buried a minibus in the Bahcesaray district of Van province Tuesday. A second avalanche struck a vehicle that was on a search and rescue mission Wednesday.

And three people were killed and 180 injured Wednesday when a plane belonging to a private airline company skidded off a runway at an Istanbul airport.