LOC02:36
23:36 GMT
ISTANBUL, Oct 30 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country mobilized all the means available to help people affected by the powerful earthquake earlier Friday.
The government institutions are making every possible effort to save people, who have been under rubble of collapsed buildings, and to help everyone affected by the shock, Anadolu Agency quoted him as saying on Friday.
President Erdogan made the comments at the Aziz Sancar Science, Service and Incentive Awards.
At least 17 people were killed and 709 others injured when a 6.6- magnitude earthquake struck the city of Izmir on the Turkish Aegean.
"Among the wounded, five are in surgery; eight are in intensive care units. Right now, search and rescue operations are taking place around 17 damaged buildings," Erdogan said.
The Turkish leader thanked his peers from around world who phoned him to express solidarity with his country in this emergency and offer condolences for the victims.
He noted that Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Azerbaijani President Ilham Heydar Aliyev offered help to Turkey during their phone conversations. (pickup previous)
ta.gb