In the early hours of Monday, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Gaziantep in Türkiye. The quake has taken the lives of thousands, while many people are still stuck under the rubble.
After the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by Türkiye, 20 EU countries, plus Albania and Montenegro, have offered teams in coordination with the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and the Turkish authorities.
29 search and rescue teams are heading to the hardest hit areas in Türkiye to help the first responders on the ground; 17 of these teams have already arrived.
In addition, 6 medical teams have been sent via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to provide emergency healthcare to people affected in Türkiye. In total, the European countries offered more than 1,400 rescuers and 100 search dogs. These numbers could rise further.
In Syria, EU humanitarian partners are on the ground supporting those affected by the earthquake, including water and sanitation support, and distributing blankets and hygiene items in affected areas.
The EU is considering all viable options to deploy additional resources inside Türkiye and Syria to support those affected by this unprecedented earthquake.
