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New Delhi: The death toll from the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria has reached around 25,000 for the fifth day. An Indian national, missing since the earthquake that hit Turkey on February 6, has been found dead under the rubble of a hotel in Malatya, the Indian Embassy in Turkey informed in a tweet on Saturday.
The deceased has been identified as Vijay Kumar, who was on a business trip to Turkey. At the same time, the death toll from the deadliest earthquake in the region in two decades has reached around 25,000 on the fifth day of its arrival in southern Turkey and northwest Syria. The death toll from the earthquake in Syria has risen to 3,533, while officials in Turkey said the death toll had risen to 21,043 on Saturday.
The Indian Embassy in Turkey is making arrangements to bring his body to his family as soon as possible. On its official Twitter handle, the Indian Embassy in Turkey said, “We inform with sadness that the mortal remains of Shri Vijay Kumar, an Indian national missing in Turkey since the 6 February earthquake, have been found amid the debris of a hotel And they have been identified. In Malatya, where he was on a business trip.
In another tweet, the Indian Embassy in Turkey said, “Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. We are making arrangements to take his mortal remains to his family at the earliest.” Earlier on February 8, Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs had said that ten Indians were killed in remote parts of Turkey after two “biggest natural calamities” earthquakes hit the country, but they are safe while one civilian is left over. missing. He made this comment during a special briefing on ‘Operation Dost’.
We inform with sorrow that the mortal remains of Shri Vijay Kumar, an Indian national missing in Turkiye since February 6 earthquake, have been found and identified among the debris of a hotel in Malatya, where he was on a business trip.@PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia
1/2— India in Türkiye (@IndianEmbassyTR) February 11, 2023
“There are 10 people who are stranded in some remote parts of the affected area but they are safe. We have an Indian national missing, who was on a business trip to Malta, Turkey. And he could not be traced for the last two days. We are in touch with his family and company in Bengaluru, Verma said during a special briefing on ‘Operation Dost’.
In Syria, 5.3 million people may be homeless
According to the SMH report, hundreds of thousands of people have become homeless due to extreme cold and there is a shortage of food. But the government of Turkey and Syria have faced questions on the relief and rescue work after the earthquake. However, many countries of the world have come forward to help Turkey and Syria to conduct relief and rescue operations in the earthquake-affected areas.
Relief and rescue work is also going on at a fast pace in many areas. Amidst all this, the United Nations has warned that at least more than eight lakh people are in need of food across Turkey and Syria. It is feared that after the earthquake, 5.3 million people may be rendered homeless in Syria alone.
