UPDATE 2 - Caucasus, Central Asian countries lend vital support after massive Türkiye quakes

UPDATES WITH INFORMATION FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES; REVISES HEADLINE, SPOT, LEDE; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus have been lending critical support for Türkiye’s ongoing earthquake relief efforts, sending hundreds of rescue and medical personnel, along with essential equipment and supplies.

According to the latest official figures, at least 8,574 people have been killed and 49,133 others wounded after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes struck 10 southern Turkish provinces within the space of a few hours, affecting around 13 million people.

More than 96,600 search and rescue teams have been engaged in non-stop search and rescue efforts, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said in a statement.

Over 5,300 personnel from other countries are helping out in the disaster area, according to AFAD, which includes rescue teams sent from Central Asian and Caucasus countries.

- Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has sent nearly 650 rescue personnel to Türkiye, along with a wide range of relief equipment and supplies.

Azerbaijani workers rescued at least 16 people in the Kahramanmaras region, including three children, the country’s Emergency Situations Ministry said on Wednesday.

An aid plane with 115 tents, 1,450 blankets, 140 beds, 90 heaters, 300 tables, 1,000 chairs, 2,000 towels, and other supplies is on the way to Türkiye, the ministry said.

A wide range of humanitarian aid items have already been delivered on 13 special purpose vehicles, including 260 tents, 300 beds, two large power generators, 8,000 sets of clothing, 20,000 pairs of socks, 350 tables, 1,000 chairs, 5,000 yarn towels, and other supplies, the statement added.

In another act of solidarity, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has also changed its official logo on social media accounts to a black-and-white version.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the Turkish Embassy in Baku, where he offered condolences to Turkish Ambassador Cahit Bagci and held a one-on-one meeting.

- Kazakhstan

A second plane with rescue teams and relief supplies from Kazakhstan is on the way to Türkiye, the country’s Emergency Situations Ministry said on Wednesday.

There are 60 personnel on the flight, including rescuers and doctors, along with 150 types of emergency tools and equipment and more than 160 types of medicines, according to a ministry statement.

They will join search and rescue operations in the southern Turkish province of Gaziantep, raising the number of Kazakh personnel in the area to 100, it added.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the government “to allocate $1 million for emergency assistance to Türkiye,” the presidential press service Akorda said in an early Wednesday tweet.

Tokayev also visited the Turkish Embassy in Astana, where he expressed his condolences and pledged that Kazakhstan will provide “all-round assistance to Türkiye.”

- Uzbekistan

More than 100 rescue workers from Uzbekistan are engaged in relief operations in southern Türkiye, according to the country’s Emergency Situations Ministry.

“During search and rescue operations, Uzbek rescuers pulled out nine people alive and 12 bodies from the rubble,” the ministry said in a statement.

Uzbek search teams have also been working in Ovakent in Türkiye’s Hatay region.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that the country will send both emergency personnel and humanitarian aid to Türkiye.

- Kyrgyzstan

A 63-member team from Kyrgyzstan reached Türkiye’s Kahramanmaras province on Wednesday, the country’s Emergency Situations Ministry said on Wednesday.

The team includes rescuers, medical workers, and psychologists, the ministry said.

The Kyrgyz parliament also observed a minute’s silence over the deadly earthquakes.

The Kyrgyz presidency set up a bank account for funds for earthquake relief operations, with the country’s top officials and government employees starting off the collection by donating a day’s salary.

- Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan has sent humanitarian supplies and emergency personnel to help out in Türkiye’s relief operations.

“Humanitarian cargo consists of medicines, medical supplies and textiles,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Doctors and medical workers have also been sent to Republic of Türkiye to provide the necessary assistance to their colleagues helping the victims.”

Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on Tuesday ordering the Health and Medical Industry Ministry, as well as its Textile Industry Ministry, to organize humanitarian aid for Türkiye.

- Georgia

Georgia sent a 60-member team of firefighters and rescuers to Türkiye on Monday.

The Georgian Interior Ministry said 40 more firefighters were being dispatched on Wednesday to join rescue teams working in the Turkish province of Adiyaman.

“A field camp has been set up at the site and Georgian rescuers are in close coordination with the operational control center in Adiyaman,” the ministry said.

- Armenia

The Armenian government said on Wednesday that it has sent 27 rescue personnel to Türkiye.

The announcement came a day after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During the conversation, Pashinyan offered condolences and expressed solidarity with Erdogan and the people of Türkiye, the Armenian government said on Twitter.