The Portuguese Government is accompanying the Portuguese in Turkey, being in contact with six young people who were there on Erasmus and are safe, announced the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Through the Embassy of Portugal in Ankara and the Consular Office for Emergencies, the Portuguese EMN said on Tuesday that “it has been closely following the situation of Portuguese citizens in the region, attentive to the earthquake that hit, with strong impact, to Turkey and Syria. “.
The earthquake, registered this Monday and followed by strong aftershocks, has already caused the death of more than 5,000 people in Turkey and Syria, leaving thousands injured and thousands homeless due to the icy cold felt in the region, but the figure remains provisional.
The quakes, the largest measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, toppled thousands of buildings in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
In a statement, the MNE indicated that the Portuguese Embassy in Ankara “has identified the Portuguese who are in the region and is currently making their whereabouts known, taking all possible steps, in a context in which communications and electricity in some areas are still damaged. inoperable”.
“The Portuguese Embassy in Ankara has contacted a group of six young Portuguese who were on Erasmus+, accompanied by two teachers, confirming that they are safe and are now looking for a safe way to leave the country,” he added. . .
Communication channels were strengthened, providing the Portuguese Embassy in Ankara with a mobile phone number (+90 532 605 13 57) and creating a WhatsApp group.
The MNE informs that, in case of difficulties, Portuguese citizens can also report their case through the email address [email protected] or by phone + 351 217 929 714 | + 351 961 706 472.
According to the information that the EMN makes available on the Portal das Comunidades, “non-essential travel to and from Turkey” is not advised.
For Portuguese citizens who are in the country, the EMN asks them to follow the recommendations of the local authorities, namely civil protection and to contact the Portuguese Embassy in Ankara.
According to data from the Emigration Observatory, 284 Portuguese resided in Turkey in 2020.
Source: TSF
