People search for survivors in Diyarbakir, Turkey, on February 6, 2023, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's south-east. (Photo by ILYAS AKENGIN / AFP)
London: The UK will immediately send emergency response specialists, dogs and equipment to Turkey following the earthquake there, foreign minister James Cleverly said on Monday.
Cleverly tweeted: "The UK is sending immediate support to Turkey including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs."
The foreign ministry said it would send four dogs as well as equipment to cut concrete, tools to support buildings and seismic listening devices, following a request from Turkey.
The aid mission is expected to arrive around 9 pm local time (1800 GMT) in Gaziantep in south-eastern Turkey.
The UK said it was also sending an emergency medical team to assess the situation on the ground.
The ministry added that the UK-aid funded White Helmets were mounting a "significant search and rescue response" in north-west Syria, and have "mobilised all their resources to respond to emerging needs".
