Greek leadership expresses condolences to Turkey over devastating quakes; first rescue unit dispatched

Greek leadership on Monday expressed deep condolences and a willingness to immediately dispatch assistance to earthquake-ravaged southeast Turkey and northwest Syria.

A massive 7.8 on the Richter scale earthquake struck the region on Monday, just after noon local time, followed by an equally destructive 7.6 magnitude quake and numerous aftershocks.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed what he described as sadness over the devastating earthquakes, in a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while conveying the condolences of the government and Greek people over the loss in human life.

He reiterated Athens’ readiness to immediately assist the neighboring country in every way possible in dealing with the repercussions of the natural disaster.

According to reports, Erdogan thanked Mitsotakis for the support and Athens’ immediate response.

Immediately after the phone contact, a civil defense team of 21 rescue fire-fighters, accompanied by two canine rescue units and a multi-purpose crane vehicle, departed for southeast Turkey aboard a Hellenic Air Force transport plane.

The group is accompanied by a fire brigade civil engineer, five physicians and first responders, as well as the head of Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, Prof. Efthymios Lekkas.

On her part, Greece’s President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed her shock over the disaster caused by the twin earthquakes, while expressing her and the Greek people’s sincerest condolences.

In a first reaction, coming via Twitter, the Greek foreign ministry stressed that Athens was “…Profoundly saddened by the loss of life & damage following the devastating earthquake that hit Türkiye & Syria. Our thoughts are w/ the victims’ families, the injured & the rescue crews fighting to save lives. Greece has mobilised its resources & is ready to provide assistance.”

In second announcement, the ministry stated that “On the instructions of FM @NikosDendias @GreeceInGeneva came immediately in contact with @UNOCHA and announced Greece’s emergency contribution to address the consequences of the earthquakes & provide humanitarian assistance, through OCHA, to Türkiye and Syria.”

Finally, main opposition leader and former premier Alexis Tsipras stressed that “Deepest condolences to the peoples of Türkiye and Syria and to the families of the victims of this devastating earthquake. Int’l assistance more necessary than ever. Greece has announced readiness to support immediately.”