Rescue operations ongoing at Turkey earthquake scene (Photo: AFP)
A Nigerian student in Turkey, Olasupo Caleb in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja noted that students in the transcontinental country were warned of an impending earthquake in 2022.
Olasupo who is a student of political science at the Gaziosmanpasa University also doubles as the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Turkey.
The reports that a huge earthquake on Monday killed thousands of people across a swathe of Turkey.
The magnitude 7.8 quake brought down whole apartment blocks in Turkish cities, described as the worst tremor to strike Turkey in the 21st century.
Speaking with our correspondent, Olasupo said, “10 provinces were affected although this is the first time many Nigerian student are seeing these treble earthquakes, and right from last year we have been practicing earthquake precautions announced by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency AFAD in Turkey, right now Nigeria students here are safe although many are still scared of what’s going to happen but as a union, we have tried to reach out to student at the affected area and we are still reaching out to know what’s going on with others also we have implored all our students to remain calm and also follow some of the laydown precaution given by local authorities and AFAD”.
Speaking further, Olasupo noted that a precaution training was organized in 2022 by the Turkish government.
“We were warned last year. Infact, a day was announced by Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency for a training in which we told all Nigerian students to participate”.
The reports that earthquakes are not uncommon in Turkey. The country is situated on the Anatolian plate which borders two major fault lines; the North Anatolian fault, which stretches across the country from west to east, and the East Anatolian fault, which is in eastern Turkey.
