The U.S. government has expressed «deep concern» about the effects of the earthquake that has struck southern Turkey near the northern border of Syria, killing more than a hundred people, according to preliminary reports.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has indicated that Washington «stands ready to provide all necessary assistance,» according to a White House statement.
Sullivan also said that U.S. President Joe Biden has directed the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other agencies to evaluate the executive branch’s response options to help those most affected.
«We will continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with the Government of Turkey,» the National Security Advisor has assured.
According to preliminary reports, there are about 200 fatalities — 76 in Turkey and 111 in Syria — from an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 on the Richter scale that occurred at 04.17 local time (02.17 Spanish peninsular time) in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras.
Subsequently, numerous aftershocks have been recorded, among which three of them have reached a magnitude of 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 on the Richter scale.
The Turkish government has declared «the highest level of alarm», which implies a request for international assistance. For his part, the Syrian President is chairing an extraordinary Council of Ministers to assess the emergency situation in the country.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
