The Philippine contingent that went to Turkey following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake has already provided significant assistance and has helped a lot of individuals in the disaster-struck country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Sunday.
The President made this remark in a chance interview onboard PR 001 en route to Manila after his “very productive” five-day state visit to Tokyo, Japan.
“Malala talaga, napakabigat ng pangyayari. Marami na silang natulungan. They set up already a hospital at marami na silang nirescue. They still keep going on.” the President told reporters.
Apart from helping Turkey, the President said the government is also stepping up efforts to help Syria, which was also hit by the massive February 6 quake.
“I’m trying to find a way kasi hindi lang naman Turkey and tinamaan. Syria pati. At alam naman natin ang kalagayan sa Syria, hindi napakaganda, that’s why I’m hoping to be able to do something to help them also,” the President explained.
Reports showed that the 7.8 magnitude tremor is Turkey’s most severe earthquake since 1999.
More than 17,000 individuals died in that powerful quake about 24 years ago.
The death toll from the February 6 quake has reached over 24,000 in Turkey as of Saturday, February 11.
The Syrian health ministry, meantime, reported 1,347 deaths, as of February 9. #
