Following the deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake in southeastern Türkiye that left at least 2,316 people dead and more than 13,293 others injured, condolence messages are pouring, with many international leaders expressing grief after hearing the news.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Ankara has received offers from the international community for aid, with some 45 nations, alongside NATO and the EU, sending relief, medical aid, as well as condolences and prayers.
TRNC
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) sent condolences to Türkiye. "On behalf of myself and my people, I convey my best wishes to the motherland Türkiye. Our hearts were broken. Our sadness is great," President Ersin Tatar said on Twitter. Tatar also wished Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the injured. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the TRNC will send eight specially equipped vehicles with a civil defense team of 30 people.
Üstel and Tatar called President Erdoğan to extend condolences, according to a statement by the Presidential Communications Directorate.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joined the global chorus on Monday in extending condolences to Türkiye and Syria over the deadly earthquake.
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha "called the OlC Member States and relevant institutions as well as all partners to contribute to the rescue efforts conducted by the Republic of Türkiye."
The leaders of Pakistan and India were among the first to offer condolences over the loss of lives and infrastructure in a massive earthquake that jolted the southeastern region of Türkiye on Monday morning.
In a tweet, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed solidarity with the people of Türkiye in this trying time. "Deeply saddened by the news of a massive earthquake that struck the southeastern region of Türkiye. I send my profound condolences and most sincere sympathies to my brother President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the brotherly people of Türkiye on the loss of precious lives and damage to infrastructure," he said, adding that Islamabad will lend "all possible help" to Ankara as Türkiye has always stood alongside Pakistan in testing times.
In a message, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is anguished by the loss of lives and damage to property due to the earthquake. "Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” Modi wrote on Twitter. The premier also said India stands in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and is "ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy.”
Meanwhile, the top diplomats of both countries also expressed grief over the loss of life in Türkiye. According to a statement by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed grief and solidarity, saying: “The government and people of Pakistan stand in complete solidarity with our Turkish brethren in this hour of grief. We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for early recovery of those injured.”
Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he is "deeply distressed by the loss of lives and damage in the earthquake in Türkiye.” He said he has conveyed "our condolences and support at this difficult time" to his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. ''Shocking to hear about the huge distraction of the #earthquake killing people in #Türkiye & #Syria. My deepest condolences to the families & wishing fast recovery to the injured. We are ready to send help in these difficult times,'' Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, shared on Twitter.
"We stand in full solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria after the deadly earthquake that hit this morning," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.
European Council President Charles Michel also extended his condolences saying "EU stands in full solidarity" with Ankara.
The European Union announced search and rescue crews were being dispatched to Türkiye. Janez Lenarcic, the European commissioner for crisis management, tweeted that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated after the disaster. He said teams from the Netherlands and Romania were already on their way.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola too assured Europe stands with the people of Türkiye and Syria. “My thoughts are with those killed, those trapped, those injured and with all rescuers doing their utmost to save lives,” Metsola wrote on Twitter.
Voicing full solidarity with Türkiye, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter: "I am in touch with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and NATO Allies are mobilizing support now." Extending condolences to Turkish people "with whom France stands alongside," French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said on Twitter: "Of course, France is available to help."
Media outlets reported that Türkiye has formally requested help from NATO allies to tackle the aftermath of the earthquakes. Emergency medial teams and equipment, different search and rescue units as well as "extreme weather-proof fully equipped field hospitals" are listed as part of the request published by NATO. The document also states that NATO member Moldova offered a search and rescue team that needs assistance reaching the affected area. NATO's response to the earthquakes is coordinated by the alliance's disaster response coordination center.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was among those taking to Twitter to express her "thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in these terrible earthquakes and those who still fear for their relatives, friends or neighbors." "We woke up to terrible news from Türkiye and Syria," she wrote. "Together with our partners, we stand ready to provide assistance." "Germany will of course send aid," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote in another tweet. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said Germany's federal civil protection agency could provide camps with emergency shelters and water treatment units and that it was already preparing relief supplies with emergency generators, tents and blankets, in coordination with the Turkish authorities.
On the other hand, Russia also voiced solidarity with Ankara, saying it hopes the country overcomes this disaster with the most minor damage. "Russian President Putin extends deep condolences to Türkiye," Moscow said, noting that they were ready to provide necessary assistance to mitigate earthquake damages, according to Kremlin.
The country's Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that a 100-member rescue team and two IL-76 airplanes were readied for assistance in the earthquake's aftermath.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Erdoğan to extend Moscow's condolences and informed him on Russia's disaster management support, search and rescue assistance.
Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskyy, through his official Twitter account, also expressed his condolences to the people of Türkiye and those who lost their lives in the earthquake. ''I wish a speedy recovery to all the injured. At this time, we stand by the friendly Turkish people and are ready to provide the necessary assistance,'' he said.
Malaysia will send a search and rescue team to assist in relief efforts. "A total of 75 members of the Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) will be dispatched to Türkiye tonight via a Turkish Airlines flight, bringing with them the equipment that will be used in the search and rescue operations," Armizan Ali, a Malaysian minister, said in a statement.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday expressed "deepest sympathies and condolences" for Türkiye.
"I am deeply saddened by the huge loss of lives, injuries and massive destruction" Anwar said in a written statement.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir also spoke to his Turkish counterpart Çavuşoğlu to extend condolences over the loss of lives.
China
China's President Xi Jinping sent his condolences to Turkish and Syrian leaders after the most powerful earthquake in nearly a century hit their countries.
Xi told President Erdoğan and Syrian President Bashar Assad in separate messages he was "shocked" to learn of the disaster, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Xi said he believed that under the leadership of the Turkish president, the "government and people of Türkiye will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes."
The Chinese president said he was "saddened" to hear that the earthquakes "caused heavy casualties and property losses."
Public broadcaster CGTN quoted the Chinese president as saying that he extended "condolences over the deceased and expressed sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured," on behalf of the Chinese government and people.
He also conveyed "deep condolences for the dead and sincere sympathy for their families as well as for the injured," it said.
China's official foreign aid agency said it was in contact with Turkish and Syrian authorities and "willing to provide emergency humanitarian aid in accordance with the needs of the affected population."
Croatia was also quick to respond to the emergency situation in Türkiye and sent an aid convoy consisting of five trucks sent by the government, two sent by the Catholic humanitarian group Caritas and one truck sent by the Croatian Red Cross. The aid sent by the country included tents, sleeping bags, heaters, medical supplies and food.
The Balkan country also sent an emergency team with 41 staff and trained dogs to contribute to search and rescue efforts in the Hatay and Osmaniye provinces.
France
Meanwhile, messages from other countries keep coming, with France also voicing solidarity with Türkiye over the 7.7 magnitude quake, extending condolences to Turkish people "with whom France stands alongside."
"We are receiving terrible images from Türkiye and Syria following an earthquake of unprecedented force," President Emmanuel Macron further tweeted, stressing readiness to provide emergency relief to the citizens affected by the disaster and sending condolences to the bereaved families.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, also on Twitter, said that she had sent her "sincere condolences" to Çavuşoğlu, his country and his people.
"France is by their side," she said.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry also announced it mobilized troops and drones from the Military Emergency Unit to help Türkiye. Spain's aid and staff arrived at the Malatya Airport, where Turkish authorities installed the international aid center.
"Spain is preparing additional aid that the affected countries and their populations may require," it added.
A unit with vast experience in earthquakes and people recovery all over the world is accompanying the Spanish troops to Malatya, the Spanish Embassy to Ankara said later in the day. The unit previously came to Türkiye’s aid two years ago to put out wildfires with airplanes, the embassy added.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also extended its condolences to Türkiye and Syria on the devastating earthquake, while hundreds of Palestinians performed prayers at occupied East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday for the victims.
In a written statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was stated that Egypt offered its condolences for those who lost their lives in the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, saying that Egypt is "ready to help face this disaster."
Greece also offered assistance. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted his condolences and said Greece mobilized all its resources to help. Greece was among the countries that delivered humanitarian aid to Türkiye after the 1999 earthquake that killed thousands in northwestern Türkiye, while Türkiye delivered aid to its western neighbor which was struck by an earthquake one month after the disaster in Türkiye that year.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also called President Erdoğan to extend their condolences and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
Türkiye’s fellow Mediterranean nation Italy too offered its help, according to the government in Rome on Monday morning. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is following the situation in the disaster area and expressing her sympathy to those affected, it added.
The head of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Nechirvan Barzani, expressed sympathy with Türkiye and Syria over the earthquake. "I extend my condolences to the victims' families and loved ones, and wish a quick recovery to the wounded," Barzani said in a statement. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also extended its condolences to Türkiye and Syria on the devastating earthquake.
WHO chief Tedros said its network of emergency medical teams has been activated to provide essential health care for the injured and most vulnerable affected by the earthquake.
Taiwan's fire department said it had a team of 130 people, along with five search dogs and 13 tons of aid, ready to go to Türkiye and was awaiting Türkiye's response to the offer.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) also called President Erdoğan to extend condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Leaders of African countries and continental bodies on Monday expressed their condolences and showed solidarity with Ankara after a strong earthquake hit southern Türkiye and Syria.
Some of those who expressed condolences included the presidents of Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Burundi, and Gambia, among others.
Continental bodies included the African Union, the East African Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
"Africa stands in unwavering solidarity and sorrow with the government and people of #Turkiye and #Syria following the devastating earthquake that led to the deaths of more than a thousand innocent people and wreaking terrible infrastructural damage," Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, wrote in a brief statement on Twitter.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pledged to support the two friendly countries in the wake of the earthquakes that left at least 1,651 people dead and 11,119 injured in Türkiye. In Syria, at least 968 were killed and 2,403 others wounded, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
Buhari "wishes those injured a speedy recovery and assures that the prayers and thoughts of Nigerians are with the many affected by this severe disaster and its aftershocks," presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said in a statement.
Adesina added that the president had assured that Nigeria was ready to offer "full support in any way possible" to both quake-hit nations.
Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, extended his heartfelt condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Bashar al-Assad, following the earthquake.
"Peace to the souls of the victims and speedy recovery to the injured," he wrote on Twitter.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud also offered his deepest condolences to the Turkish people and the president.
"On behalf of the Somali People and Government, I offer my deepest condolences to the Turkish people, and President @RTErdogan, due to the earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş and felt in many cities, and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," he wrote.
Gambian President Adama Barrow also condoled with Türkiye and Syria sending well wishes and prayers for the victims and their families.
Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye also expressed sadness for the numerous deaths, devastation and destruction caused by the earthquakes in Türkiye.
"This is one of the most powerful quakes to have hit the region, leading to the tragic loss of life and destruction of property. I assure the brotherly peoples of Turkey and Syria of my great compassion and of the good will of the people of Kenya in this time of profound grief," Foreign Minister Alfred Matua said.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) a regional block in the Horn of Africa said it is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and destruction as a result of the earthquake.
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those injured "in the tragic calamities."
The East African Community, a block of six countries, also offered condolences to the governments and people of Türkiye and Syria.
The U.N. General Assembly held a minute of silence for the victims of the deadly earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.
President of the U.N. General Assembly Csaba Korosi extended his deepest condolences to the governments and peoples of Türkiye and Syria for the tragic loss of life and damage.
He invited members states to stand and observe a moment of silence before a session started at the 193-member General Assembly.
Earlier, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the extensive loss of life in Türkiye and Syria.
"My heart goes out to the people of Türkiye and Syria in this hour of tragedy," Guterres said in a statement.
"I send my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish speedy recovery to the injured. The United Nations is fully committed to supporting the response. Our teams are on the ground assessing the needs and providing assistance."
The U.N. chief called on the international community to help the thousands of families hit by the disaster many of whom were already in dire need of humanitarian aid in areas where access is a challenge.
