The Embassy of Portugal in Ankara has set up a WhatsApp group for Portuguese citizens in the country to use in case of emergency and has asked people in the country to follow civil protection recommendations.
“For emergencies, you can contact the Portuguese Embassy in Ankara on the mobile number +90 532 605 13 57, available 24 hours a day and also available on WhatsApp”is mentioned in the information of the Portuguese Embassy, inserted in the website of the diplomatic portal.
The embassy also advises citizens in Turkey to remain calm, not to travel to rough areas and to follow the instructions of the country’s civil protection.
In the note, the Embassy of Portugal in Ankara expresses its “solidarity and condolences to all relatives and friends of the victims of last night’s earthquake. [segunda-feira] in Turkey and expresses the hope that together we will overcome this tragedy stronger and more united.”
More than 4,300 people died and at least 19,000 were injured in Turkey and Syria as a result of two earthquakes, one measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, recorded on Monday.
The earthquakes also caused the collapse of more than 5,600 buildings in Turkey. Rescue teams continued to search for survivors in the rubble this morning, with work limited by rain, snow and falling temperatures.
At least 2,921 people were killed in 10 Turkish provinces, with nearly 16,000 injured, Turkey’s disaster relief agency said this morning.
The death toll in government-controlled areas in Syria has risen to 656 people and about 1,400 injured, according to the Syrian Health Ministry.
At least 700 people have been killed and about 2,000 injured in rebel-held northwestern Syria, the White Helmets rescue group said.
Dozens of countries have already announced that they will send aid, personnel and equipment to assist in the rescue efforts.
The earthquake occurred 33 kilometers from the provincial capital of Gaziantep, in southeastern Turkey, close to the border with Syria, at a depth of 17.9 kilometers.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and dozens of aftershocks were felt, one of which measured at least 7.6.
Source: DN
