In response to a request for assistance from Turkey, the EU is helping the Turkish authorities after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated the Gaziantep region in the small hours of the morning on Monday 6 February, followed by another 7.5 magnitude earthquake at dawn in the south-east of the country - with a very heavy provisional death toll of more than 1,500 in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
Urban search and rescue teams were quickly deployed by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). As the European Commission announced at midday, these have been made available by ten countries - Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania - with Italy and Hungary also offering assistance.
The Copernicus satellite system was also activated, to provide emergency mapping services of the affected areas.
“The EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in direct contact with the Turkish authorities to coordinate further assistance, if needed”, EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said.
The EU is also ready to assist Syria with humanitarian aid, even through the UCPM, if requested. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)