The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova has reported that a 36-year-old woman and two minors, all of whom were members of the same family, have died as a result of the earthquake that occurred in the town of Hatay in Turkey.

The officials from the Moldovan embassy located in Ankara are making efforts to contact and communicate with Moldovan citizens residing in the ten areas affected by the earthquake to ensure their safety and well-being.

"Since February 7, the embassy representatives have been making efforts to contact 48 individuals from the affected regions. 17 Moldovan citizens have reported that they are safe, while 4 have requested specialized consular assistance. Efforts to establish communication with the diplomatic mission are ongoing for the remaining 27 individuals. Additionally, through the embassy in Bucharest in coordination with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we would like to inform you that two Moldovan citizens who hold dual citizenship have requested assistance for repatriation from the Turkish city of Malatya to Bucharest. They are medical students who participated in the Erasmus program. The evacuation operation was carried out by the Romanian side," said Daniel Vodă, the spokesman for the MAEIE.

The Agency for the Management of Disasters and Emergency Situations in Turkey (AFAD) has instructed our rescuers to head to the province of Hatay on the Syrian border, where Moldovan rescuers are expected to arrive this evening, as stated by the MAEIE.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova (MFAIE) reiterates that the consular section officials are ready to offer specialized assistance. In case of emergency or necessary consular support, citizens can reach out to the diplomatic mission for help or information, including if they have information regarding citizens of the Republic of Moldova in affected areas. The telephone line for consular emergencies at the embassy in Ankara is permanently available, as is the MFAIE Call Center located in the Republic of Moldova.