Sporting teams who were in Türkiye to take part in competitions have returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

A total of 63 people, consisting of students and teachers who were in the Düzce and Kahramanmaraş districts, were greeted with tears of joy and applause at Ercan Airport.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel was among those who welcomed the athletes.

The Near East College Junior Boys Handball Team and the Lefkoşa Türk Lise Junior Girls Handball team who were in Düzce returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

28 students, 2 teachers and 2 administrators were greeted at Ercan Airport by their families and loved ones.

The Namık Kemal High School Junior Boys Volleyball Team consisting of 13 students, 1 teacher and 1 administrator and the Gazimağusa Turk Maarif College Junior Girls Volleyball Team consisting of 14 students, 1 teacher and 1 administrator who were in Kahramanmaraş arrived at Ercan Airport in the early hours of the morning.

Alongside the families, Parliamentary Speaker Zorlu Töre, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu and some ministers were at Ercan airport to welcome the teams.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel made a brief statement to the press.

He said that search and rescue efforts in Adıyaman were continuing and that as the government they have been trying to tackle the process in the best possible way since the earthquake struck Türkiye.

“We are waiting for some more good news from the region” said Üstel.