KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is sending 75 Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) members to southern Turkiye to assist in the search and rescue (SAR) operations there.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the decision was made after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had given his approval and Malaysia had received Turkiye government's confirmation of its need for assistance.
"The 75 SMART members is scheduled to fly to Turkiye tonight (Feb 6) using a Turkish Airlines aircraft and they will bring along the equipment needed in the SAR operation.
"The SMART team has received the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) recognition in 2016, which allows the team to be deployed and participate in disaster missions overseas," he said in a statement.
A 7.8 magnitude quake was reported to have knocked down multiple buildings in Southeast Turkiye and Syria in the wee hours of the morning on Monday.
There were at least six aftershocks and the people were urged not to enter damaged buildings due to weaken structures.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 33 kilometers from Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital.
It was centered 18 kilometers deep, and a strong 6.7 magnitude aftershock rumbled about 10 minutes later.
The powerful earthquake was reported to have killed more than 500 people.