Turkey sends help to quake victims in northern Iraq

By Hamdi Celikbas

ANKARA (AA) - A military cargo plane carrying aid and a search-and-rescue team left Ankara for northern Iraq on Monday to help earthquake victims in the region.

The Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft took off from Etimesgut air base at 9.24 a.m. local time (0624GMT) carrying a 20-strong search team and another medical team of 10 from the Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), two vehicles, 60 tents, 320 blankets and medical supplies.

AFAD President Mehmet Gulluoglu said the flight would attempt to land at Sulaymaniyah International Airport.

Another 10-strong search-and-rescue team was dispatched by road, he added in a statement.

Turkey’s aid efforts are being coordinated with the central government in Baghdad and the Iraqi Red Crescent.

According to AFAD's Twitter account, 5,000 tents, 7,000 blankets, 92 personnel and 11 vehicles were dispatched to northern Iraq immediately after the earthquake.

Hundreds were killed in the earthquake that struck 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of the city of Halabja, near the Iranian border, at 9.18 p.m. local time (1818GMT).

Iranian media reported over 200 killed in western Iran and 2,504 injured. The Iraqi Interior Ministry said seven people were killed and 321 injured in Iraq.

Gulluoglu said there had not been a request for help from Iran but Turkey would be willing to respond to a request.