PH ready to provide aid to Turkey, Syria: Marcos

FILE: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will stress the importance of regional cooperation on various issues during the 40th and 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (OPS Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. offered thoughts, prayers and assistance to Turkey and Syria after hundreds of people were killed in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck both sides of the border on Monday.

“Our thoughts and prayers go to the peoples and governments of Türkiye and Syria following the strong earthquake that has claimed many lives and caused massive destruction to their countries,” Marcos said on his official Twitter account.

“The Philippines is ready to help in whatever way it can in responding to this disaster,” he added.

At least 284 people were killed and 2,323 injured in Turkey, according to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.

Reports showed that the 7.8 magnitude earthquake is Turkey’s most severe earthquake since 1999. More than 17,000 people died in that powerful quake around 24 years ago.

Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes.

In Syria, its health ministry said 237 people were killed and 639 others were injured in four provinces.

Many buildings suffered even more damage on top of the damage from the fighting during the Western Asian country’s nearly 12-year-long civil war.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has called for an emergency Cabinet meeting to review the damage and discuss the next steps, his office said.