US ready to provide assistance to Turkey after massive earthquake
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – On Monday morning, the White House expressed readiness to provide assistance to Turkey after a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the country’s south and also northern Syria.
“The U.S. is profoundly concerned by today’s destructive earthquake in Turkey and Syria,” the White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, said in a tweet.
Sullivan added that his country contacted Turkish officials and that “we stand ready to provide any and all needed assistance.”
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkey,” the tweet said.
A strong earthquake jolted Turkey and Syria at dawn, which leveled buildings and caused massive human losses.
The quake had a magnitude of 7.8 at 4:17 a.m, according to the USGS, and it was followed by strong aftershocks with a magnitude of 6.7.
Hundreds of people have been confirmed killed in both countries. In Turkey the death toll reached 284 and in Syria 237 as the toll is expected to rise.
The epicenter of the earthquake was near the city of Gaziantep, in south-central Turkey.