Around 40 energy ministers pledge continued support for recovery efforts in Türkiye

By Nuran Erkul

LONDON (AA) - Ministers responsible for energy from about 40 countries pledged their continued support for disaster relief and recovery efforts in Türkiye, a statement from the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday.

The ministers took part in an IEA ministerial meeting on Gas Markets and Supply Security which was held online.

Canadian minister Jonathan Wilkinson chaired the meeting while it was co-chaired by Irish minister Eamon Ryan and United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

"Ministers expressed their sincere condolences to Türkiye following the tragic loss of life caused by the devastating earthquakes this month and pledged their continued support for disaster relief and recovery efforts in the country," according to a statement.

The meeting, organized with the support of the IEA's Task Force on Gas Market Monitoring and Supply Security, under the leadership of the IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, brought together ministers responsible for energy from around 40 countries including the US, Canada and European Union.

IEA Executive Birol had urged the global energy sector to help the quake-hit region in Türkiye by donating portable solar power generators, electric heaters, container homes and Artcic tents in his Twitter account.

At least 35,418 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Feb. 6.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 tremors last week were centered in Kahramanmaras and struck nine other provinces – Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa. More than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck Türkiye in the space of less than 10 hours.