Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, administrator of the Office of Civil Defense. (File photo from the OCD Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is preparing for the possible deployment of an emergency medical and rescue to Turkey, which is reeling from the aftermath of a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said in a statement issued on Monday.
The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Manila had formally requested the Philippine government for such assistance, according to the OCD.
“Currently, OCD is coordinating with concerned agencies and mustering available manpower and equipment for possible deployment responding to the request of Türkiye,” Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, OCD administrator said, in the
the OCD statement.
“The OCD extends its heartfelt sympathies to all the victims and affected families of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit southern Türkiye just this afternoon. Our prayers are with those who are still missing as a result of this tragic event,” he added.
According to Reuters, quoting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the earthquake killed 912 people, injured 5,383 others, and caused the collapse of 2,818 buildings in Turkey,
More than 1,400 people were killed in Turkey and Syria due to the temblor.
So far, there were no reports of any Filipino casualties in the tremor, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara said.