Sri Lankan who died in earthquake buried in Turkiye

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan who died in the earthquakes in Turkiye on the 6th of February was buried in Hatay/Antakya in Turkiye, confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (14).

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara had been working to ascertain the welfare of the sixteen Sri Lankans who were living in the area affected by the earthquake and tremors, in coordination with the  Türkiye authorities. 

It was confirmed that 15 of them, contacted by the Embassy are safe, while a Sri Lankan female who was living in Hatay/Antakya Province in Türkiye, was reported missing. 

The Embassy was able to confirm the fate of the Sri Lankan concerned and also noted the unfortunate death of the missing Sri Lankan.

The identity of the deceased Sri Lankan is withheld at the request of the family. Burial of the human remains of the deceased already took place in Hatay/Antakya, in line with regulations imposed by the health authorities, said the Foreign Ministry.

Death toll from earthquakes went past 37,000. Turkish authorities say 31,974 people have been killed in the country, while more than 5,800 people are dead in Syria, according to the UN and the Syrian government.

More than 8,000 people have been pulled out alive from rubble in Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, expressing his gratitude to all countries that came forward to provide support after the quakes.

More than seven million children have been affected by the massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the UN children’s agency says, voicing fear that “many thousands” more had died.