Korean President Lee Myung-bak offered condolences to quake-hit Turkey on Monday as the country prepared to dispatch a team of rescue workers to help search for victims of the deadly disaster.
"I cannot contain my sadness at the news that a strong earthquake caused a lot of damage to people and properties," Lee said in a message to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "On behalf of the government and the people of the Republic of Korea, I offer condolences to the victims and their families."
Lee also said Korea will spare no efforts to help Turkish recover from the disaster.
Korea planned to send an advance team of five rescue workers to Istanbul, capital of Turkey, at 11 p.m. and will check how many rescue workers and what equipment and relief supplies are needed, a foreign ministry official said.
"Immediately after the earthquake, the Korean government prepared to dispatch an emergency rescue team and provide emergency relief supplies in a speedy manner," the official said on the condition of anonymity.
Korea plans to send more rescue workers and relief supplies after consultations with the Turkish government, the official said.
Hundreds of people are feared dead or trapped after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey on Sunday.
No Korean casualties have been reported so far from the quake, the ministry said in a statement.
The two Korean nationals who live in the affected area have been confirmed safe, while the South Korean embassy in Ankara is continuing to check for any casualties among South Korean tourists, the ministry said. (Yonhap)