MINSK, February 6. /TASS/. Belarus is sending a special-purpose team of its Emergencies Ministry to Turkey to assist in the elimination of the consequences of the earthquake.

"The special purpose detachment of the Emergencies Ministry, certified according to international UN standards for carrying out rescue operations in ruined buildings is to be sent to Turkey. The detachment includes 64 specialists, vehicles and equipment for emergency and search and rescue operations," the Emergencies Ministry said on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko heard a report from Emergencies Minister Vadim Sinyavsky and issued orders to send a rescue team to Turkey and consider the delivery of humanitarian aid to quake-stricken areas of Syria.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry told TASS on Monday that the embassies in Turkey and Syria were in close contact with local authorities.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 rocked the province of Kahramanmaras in southwestern Turkey on Monday. A short while later a strong aftershock followed. According to the latest statistics, almost 1,500 died in Turkey and 460 others in Syria.