Istanbul/New Delhi: The death toll from a powerful earthquake in Turkey has risen to above 1,300 while more than 5,000 people have been injured, Turkish officials said on Monday afternoon.
Earlier reports indicated that 76 people were killed and 440 were injured. India on Monday said that it will despatch rescue and medical teams to Turkey following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed over 1,300 people and toppled buildings in central Turkey and northwest Syria.
The prime minister's office (PMO) said that a meeting was held and it was decided that the search and rescue teams of NDRF and medical teams along with relief materials would be dispatched immediately in coordination with the Government of the Republic of Turkiye.
Two teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment, are ready to be flown to the earthquake-hit area for search and rescue operations, the PMO said in a statement.
"Medical teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines. Relief material will be dispatched in coordination with the Turkish government and the Indian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General office in Istanbul," the PMO said.
The epicenter of the earthquake was near the city of Gaziantep in south-central Turkey. Earlier, Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced a Level 4 alert, which includes a call for international aid.
Condolences poured in from worldwide after reports of the massive quake hit Turkey claiming numerous lives. Earlier in the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and condoled the loss of life in Turkey and the nearby areas. (with Agency inputs)
