In the aftermath of the tremendous earthquake that slammed Turkey and Syria, at least one Thai person has been confirmed dead in the Turkish city of Iskenderun, according to sources.
The victim, a Thai woman, has not been publicly identified.
Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai visited the house of the Turkish ambassador to Thailand, Serap Ersoy, to express condolences on behalf of the Thai government for the victims and their families.
As rescue personnel continue to rummage through the wreckage of collapsed buildings, it is feared that the death toll will continue to rise. A UN official cautioned that the calamity may have claimed the lives of thousands of youngsters.
Since then, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has declared an emergency in ten regions.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake was followed hours later by a second earthquake that was nearly as violent. Thousands of structures, including hospitals, schools, and residential complexes, were reduced to rubble. In Turkey and northern Syria, tens of thousands of people have been injured and countless others rendered homeless by the earthquake.
Destroyed roads, severe weather conditions, and a shortage of personnel and heavy equipment are impeding rescue operations. Some impacted communities are also without electricity and gasoline.
