A Presidential Crisis and Coordination meeting was held first thing this morning in order to discuss the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Türkiye and was also felt in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

President Ersin Tatar chaired the meeting that was realized at the presidential palace at 8am.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu, Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus Major General Sezai Öztürk, Commander of the Security Forces Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Head of the Civil Defence Organisation Atilla Karaca and Presidential Undersecretary Okan Donangil all attended the meeting.

President Ersin Tatar, who issued a statement at the end of the meeting, stated that they were in constant contact with Turkish officials in order to receive information about the situation of the Gazimağusa Turk Maarif College students who were staying at a hotel in Adıyaman that has been damaged due to the earthquake.

He also stated that a team from the Civil Defence Organization will be going to Adıyaman 15.00 to support the work in the region.

Tatar said that the Crisis and Coordination Meeting at the Presidency was held to closely monitor the developments related to the earthquake.

He stated that they had also discussed the transfer of teams from the TRNC to Türkiye upon Türkiye’s call for help and that the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ünal Üstün was working on this issue.

Pointing out that they are in contact with all the teams and the authorities in Adıyaman for the rescue of the students who are in the Adıyaman region, Tatar added that the Crisis Desk is on duty to follow up with the developments.