“At this point we have no information about any Polish citizens being hurt in this morning’s earthquake,” Poland’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement shared with the Polish state news agency PAP on Monday afternoon.
Polish diplomatic missions in Turkey are monitoring the situation and remain in contact with local authorities, the ministry added.
Polish president offers condolences to Turkish head of state
Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda has sent a letter of condolence to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Polish head of state wrote: “Due to the tragic effects of this event, I would like to extend to you my deepest sympathy for the loved ones of the victims and for the people who have been injured. Poland and Polish people are uniting with them in pain and sorrow, wishing wounded people a speedy recovery.”
Duda added: “Please accept, Mr President, my most sincere condolences and solidarity.”
The Polish president took to Twitter to announce the sending of the letter and give assirances that Poland would provide support with the effects of the quake.
Poland sends rescuers to Turkey
A search and rescue team of the Polish State Fire Service, consisting of 76 fire fighters and 8 sniffer dogs, was due to depart for Turkey on Monday to help with the consequences of the disaster, the PAP news agency reported.
A five-strong team of humanitarian and medical aid workers was set to accompany the fire fighters, according to officials.
Deadly earthquake rocks Turkey, Syria
The 7.8-magnitude quake hit near the southern city of Gaziantep in the early hours of Monday, while people were asleep, British broadcaster the BBC reported.
Another, 7.5 magnitude tremor struck at around 1.30p.m. local time, which was "not an aftershock," officials told reporters.
More than 1,500 people were killed after the first quake in Turkey alone, with over 9,700 wounded, according to Turkey’s Vice-President Fuat Oktay.
In addition, more than 1,000 people have died in Syria, according to news reports.
Meanwhile, rescuers are seeking to save people trapped under the rubble, with hundreds of buildings having collapsed in both Turkey and Syria, the BBC reported.
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Source: PAP, prezydent.pl , polskieradio24.pl, BBC, Reuters, The Telegraph