Putin says Russia ready to help Turkey mitigate quake effects

MOSCOW. Feb 6 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the quake in Turkey.

"My profound condolences on numerous fatalities and massive destruction caused by a strong quake in your country," Putin said in a telegram published on the Kremlin website on Monday.

"Please convey my sincere sympathy and support to the families and friends of the deceased and wishes of a speedy recovery to everyone injured in this calamity. We are ready to give necessary assistance in this connection," Putin said.

A strong quake rocked eastern Turkey and neighboring Syria in the early hours of Monday. According to the latest update, the quake occurred in the Turkish province of Gaziantep and was felt in several countries.

It killed 284 people in Turkey and another 237 in Syria, according to the latest information. Thousands of people were injured.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry is preparing to send two Ilyushin Il-76 planes with rescuers to Turkey to help clean up the quake aftermath.

"The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry is always ready to help a friendly country, whose citizens have found themselves in a difficult situation. Our rescuers have the competence and equipment necessary for the search and rescue effort in such emergencies and are ready to fly to the quake zone," the ministry's press service quoted Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Kurenkov as saying.