MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. Russian rescuers have set off for Turkey and Syria to help eliminate the consequences of Monday’s devastating earthquake, the Russian emergencies ministry said.
"At the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov has sent a team of rescuers to Turkey and Syria," it said.
According to a TASS correspondent, three planes with Russian rescuers have already taken off for Turkey.
In all, more than 100 rescuers, as well as specialists with dogs will be sent to Turkey and Syria to conduct search and rescue operations.
According to the latest reports, nearly 1,700 people have been killed and more than 11,000 have been injured in the quake in Turkey. The death toll from the earthquake in neighboring Syria has exceeded 1,000 and some 2,400 have been hurt.