Rescuers search for survivors through the rubble in Turkey. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri offered their condolences on Monday to Turkey and Syria after the tragic overnight earthquake that has so far killed more than 1,200 people.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement extending its “deepest condolences” and “solidarity” to the governments and people of the Republic of Turkey and of the Syrian Arab Republic.
The ministry concluded by expressing “Lebanon’s readiness to extend a helping hand and assistance,” to both countries.
Berri also expressed his “solidarity and support” in a statement, and affirmed that he stands by the “Syrian leadership, government and people in these difficult moments that call for an Arab and international humanitarian mobilization alongside Syria to heal its wounds.”
Berri condoled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by stating that he has followed up on the tragedy “with great sadness and sympathy.”
Berri also offered his condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and stated that “in my name, in the name of the Parliament, and in the name of the Lebanese people, I extend to your Excellency, and through you, to the families of the victims who fell as a result of the earthquake that struck some Turkish regions and cities, asking God Almighty for mercy for them and for the wounded, a speedy recovery, and to give you and the friendly Turkish people the ability to overcome the painful repercussions of this disaster.”
Early Monday morning, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the epicenter of which was in the southern Turkish town of Nurdagi, was felt across the region including in Lebanon. Nurdagi is 450km from Beirut and near Turkey's border with Syria.