Zambians escape death in Turkey

Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo

Following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the Republic of Türkiye on 6th February, 2023, no Zambian national is reported to have lost their life.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in Ganziantep Province of Türkiye and it affected the central parts of the country, including neighbouring Syria.

However, six Zambian students on self-sponsorship from Dicle University in Diyarbakir, south-eastern Türkiye were being evacuated yesterday by the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Ankara, after their apartment collapsed as a result of the earthquake.

The students are temporarily being accommodated in Ankara.

The Zambian Mission has continued to check on known Zambians in Ganziantep Province and the surrounding provinces in the aftermath of the earthquake, and it will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo says the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Türkiye (AFAD) has reported more than 10,000 deaths in Türkiye and 40,000 injuries resulting from the earthquake.