Organization of Islamic Cooperation head to visit Türkiye in wake of deadly quakes

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Hissein Brahim Taha, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), will visit Türkiye on Wednesday in the wake of the Feb. 6 deadly earthquakes, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Taha will visit the quake-hit province of Gaziantep to demonstrate solidarity and express his condolences over the twin quakes that have claimed the lives of more than 42,300 people, the ministry said in a statement.

He is also expected to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara on Thursday, it added.

The 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude tremors were centered in Kahramanmaras and struck 10 other southern provinces – Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye, Sanliurfa and Elazig. More than 13 million people have been affected.

Condolences have poured in from around the world expressing solidarity with Türkiye, with many countries sending rescue teams and aid.