One Indian has gone missing in earthquake-hit Turkey while 10 others are stuck but safe in remote regions of the country, the External Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday even as the death toll in Monday's devastating earthquake crossed 11,000. The ministry said the authorities are in touch with the family of the person who went missing.
"We set up a control room at Adana in Turkey. Ten Indians are stuck in remote parts of the affected areas, but they are safe. We have one Indian national missing who was on a business visit to Turkey. He has not been traced in the last two days. We are in touch with his family and the company in Bengaluru which employs him," Secretary (West) in the MEA, Sanjay Verma said.
He said the control room has received as many as 75 calls so far seeking information and assistance.
According to the officer, there are around 3,000 Indians in Turkey, out of which about 1,800 live in and around Istanbul, while 250 are in Ankara and the rest are spread all over the country. Indians in Turkey are relatively safe, he said.
Meanwhile, the special search and rescue teams sent by India under 'Operation Dost' began their operation in the west Asian country.
On Tuesday, India sent to Turkey relief materials, a mobile hospital and specialised search and rescue teams in four C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft to support the country's rescue efforts. New Delhi also sent relief materials on board a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force to Syria.
Meanwhile, reports said India is sending a third team of the National Disaster Response Force to Turkey. Two NDRF teams have already reached the country and launched rescue operations at multiple collapsed structures.
The third team will consist of 51 rescuers and a specially-trained dog squad, ANI reported quoting an official.
A massive earthquake of 7.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale, ripped through Turkey and Syria on February 6, followed by a series of aftershocks that caused huge devastation, loss of lives and damage to infrastructure in both countries.
Rescue workers in Turkey are racing against time to save people trapped under the rubble of thousands of buildings. According to the Associated Press, the death toll rose Wednesday to more than 11,000.
Search teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel, and aid pledges have poured in from around the world. But the scale of destruction from the 7.8 magnitude quake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread so wide, including in areas isolated by Syria's ongoing civil war that many are still waiting for help.
