The Foreign Ministry has received 24 reports about missing contact with Ukrainian citizens due to the earthquake in Turkey, its spokesman Oleh Nikolenko has said.
According to him, there has been no information about Ukrainians being among the victims of the earthquake.
"Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has taken the issue of providing assistance to Ukrainians amid the earthquake in Turkey under his personal control. An operational headquarters has been set up at the Ukrainian Embassy. The capacities of the Consulate General in Istanbul and the Consulate in Antalya are also involved," Nikolenko said.
He added that diplomats are cooperating with Turkish rescue services. "All information was promptly transferred to the Turkish side. The location of our citizens is being established. After receiving the updated information, diplomats will immediately inform the families," the spokesman said.
Nikolenko noted that in order to get help, one should contact the hotline of the Ukrainian Embassy in Turkey (+90 539 550 98 98). There is also a hotline of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine (+380 44 238 15 88).
An earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria, killing up to two 2,000 people in both countries (as of 6 February) and injuring several thousand more. Less than 12 hours later, a second earthquake was recorded.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine is ready to send a large group of rescuers to Turkey to help respond to the crisis.