The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and its members have expressed condolences to those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
“The thoughts of the WTTC, and its Members are with those who have been affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria which has taken so many lives, and devastated hundreds of families. We send our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of all those affected,” WTTC said in a statement.
Two powerful earthquakes hit Turkey and neighboring Syria on Monday, killing more than 2,300 people and injuring thousands more. The pre-dawn 7.8-magnitude quake, reportedly one of the largest ever to hit Turkey, was followed by a 7.5-magnitude tremor 12 hours later.
The toll is expected to rise as hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble. Rescue operations are underway and workers continue to search mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across the area.
The second earthquake, which was centered on Turkey’s southeastern province of Kahramanmaras, was felt as far away as Cairo. In Damascus, residents rushed into the street, while people in Beirut were jolted awake in their beds.
Around 18,000 were killed in a similarly powerful quake that hit northwest Turkey in 1999.
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