Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said on Tuesday that efforts to clear towns and cities of rubble of buildings which collapsed in last month’s devastating earthquakes in Türkiye were continuing.

Describing the earthquakes as an incomparable natural disaster, Üstel said that 49 TRNC citizens had lost their lives in the quakes.

Awarding the soldiers, police officers and fire-fighters who took part in the search and rescue operations with certificates of commendation, the prime minister said, “I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who worked tirelessly to save our people trapped under the rubble.

Üstel said that the Turkish Cypriot people were sharing the pain and grief of the Turkish nation.

Warning that a similar natural disaster could take place in Cyprus, the prime minister highlighted the importance of deriving lessons from the earthquake in Türkiye and to be prepared for all kinds of natural disasters.

“Our concern is the TRNC, our people and our children,” said Üstel who vowed to do everything possible to prepare the country for an earthquake.

He said the government had taken action to further strengthen the capabilities of the Civil Defence Organisation.