President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) visited the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei on Thursday to pay tribute to the Turkish people who died in a recent earthquake. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit Turkey on Monday, with the death toll reaching 12,000 as of reporting time.
Tsai left words of condolence: “My heart goes with our Turkish friends. Taiwan stands with Türkiye!”
Tsai was accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and foreign official Anthony Ho (賀忠義).
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) was also there at the representative office to pay tribute. Wu left words of condolence at the office expressing sympathy to the earthquake victims and their families. He also wrote saying Taiwan will firmly support Turkey at this devastating time.
Turkish representative to Taiwan Muhammed Berdibek expressed his gratitude to Taiwan for sending search and rescue teams and US$2 million in aid. He also thanked Taiwanese citizens and corporations for their generous donations.
The Foreign Ministry said that the Turkish government has declared a state of emergency in ten of its southern provinces for three months to speed up disaster relief efforts. The ministry called on all Taiwanese nationals living or traveling in Turkey to remain vigilant and to be on the alert for aftershocks.