Three Moldovan citizens died following earthquakes in Turkey

Chisinau, Feb. 8 /MOLDPRES/- Three Moldovan citizens died in Hatay, following the earthquakes in southeastern Turkey. It is about a 36-year-old woman and two minors, members of the same family.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MAEIE), Daniel Vodă, said that the officials from our country's embassy in Ankara continue their efforts to contact and communicate with Moldovan citizens who live in the 10 areas affected by the earthquake.

"From 7 February, embassy representatives have made efforts to contact 48 people from the list of those in the affected regions. Thus, 17 Moldovans reported that they are safe, four people requested specialized consular assistance, and in the case of 27 people, efforts to establish communication with the diplomatic mission are continuing. At the same time, through the embassy of our country in Bucharest in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, two Moldovan citizens, who hold dual citizenship, requested assistance for repatriation from Malatyala to Bucharest, they are medical students who went to Turkey through the Erasmus program. The evacuation operation is carried out by the Romanian side", said Daniel Vodă.

At the same time, in the morning of today, the team of rescuers from the Republic of Moldova specialized in urban search and rescue crossed the borders of Turkey. Officials of Turkey Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) directed our rescuers to Hatay province on the border with Syria, where they are expected to arrive in the evening.

The consular section is ready to provide specialized assistance and if needed or consular emergency, our citizens can request help or information from the diplomatic mission, including if they are in possession of data concerning citizens of the Republic of Moldova from the affected areas. The telephone line for consular emergencies from our country's embassy in Ankara is set up on a permanent basis, as is the MFAIE Call Center available in the Republic of Moldova. Telephone: +90 312 446 55 27 (active during the working hours of the diplomatic mission).

Telephone line for consular emergencies: +90 541 687 21 04 (active on a permanent basis for citizens of the Republic of Moldova, in an emergency situation / death, accident, dangerous or extraordinary situation, calamity/).

According to the latest information, the toll of the earthquake that shook southeastern Turkey, on the border with Syria, reached 9,500 dead.