President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has sent his condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the devasting earthquake in Türkiye.
In his message, President Solih said he was saddened to hear of the powerful earthquake in Türkiye which has resulted in many deaths. He gave his condolences to the families of the deceased and said the Maldives stands in solidarity with President Erdogan and the people of Türkiye in the time of tragedy.
The most powerful earthquake in nearly a century struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing nearly 2,000 people in their sleep, leveling buildings and causing tremors felt as far away as Greenland. The 7.8-magnitude early morning quake, followed hours later by a slightly smaller one, wiped out entire sections of major Turkish cities in a region filled with millions who have fled the civil war in Syria and other conflicts.
Rescuers used heavy equipment and their bare hands to peel back rubble in search of survivors, who they could in some cases hear begging for help under the rubble. The initial quake was followed by more than 50 aftershocks, including a 7.5-magnitude tremor that jolted the region in the middle of search and rescue work.
Syria's National Earthquake Centre called it the biggest earthquake recorded in the history of the centre. The state media and medical sources stated at least 783 people died in rebel and government-controlled parts of Syria.