SEPANG: The government is trying to evacuate 13 Malaysians who were stranded in several earthquake zones in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region of Kahramanmaras in Turkey on Monday.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the Ministry was getting the latest information on those stranded from the Malaysian Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate General in Istanbul.
He said the 13 were currently safe but it was difficult to retrieve them due limited communication.
He said several roads in the area were only allowed to certain parties and rescue missions involved in the search and rescue operation.
"The Malaysian Embassy in Ankara will continue its efforts to bring out the stranded Malaysians through several methods and we hope that family members in Malaysia do not worry about their situation.
"The Foreign Ministry will channel information from time-to-time," he told the media after the departure of the aid mission from the Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organisations (Mapim) today.
Also present was Mapim chief executive officer Dr Ahmad Sani Abdul Alim Araby.
The aid mission will begin today until Feb 28 with 11 participants and four media practitioners.
Mohamad said most of the stranded Malaysians work in various fields, including as doctors.
He hoped that the stranded Malaysians will remain patient and keep in touch with the Malaysian Embassy in Turkey.
He added that Mapim was the first Malaysian non-governmental organisation (NGO) to send a humanitarian team to Turkey.
Mapim allocated RM1 million worth of funds using existing allocations, and the mission will channel basic aid such as tents, blankets and other necessities for victims.