Saudi search and rescue teams arrive in quake-hit Turkish province

A partially damaged building after a 6.4-magnitude second earthquake hit the Hatay province in southern Turkey, in Antakya, on February 20, 2023. (AFP)
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RIYADH: Search and rescue teams of the Saudi Civil Defense arrived early Tuesday in Turkiye’s Hatay province following a new 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday that killed at least three people and injured more than 200.

Saudi Civil Defense spokesman Mohammed Al-Hammadi told Ekhbariya TV that the Saudi search and rescue team moved from Gaziantep to Hatay and to be dispatched in three sites damaged by earthquake.

He also said the the team is dealing with missing persons cases.

Monday's earthquake was centered in the town of Defne, Hatay province, one of the worst-hit regions in the magnitude 7.8 quake that struck on Feb. 6. It was felt in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Israel and as far away as Egypt, and followed by a second, magnitude 5.8 temblor.

As part of a Saudi airlift, twelve aircraft carrying food, medicine, shelter materials,  and other forms of assistant flew out of Riyadh heading for Turkiye and Syria.