The Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude John X, was briefed on Monday at the historic Greek Orthodox Monastery of Balamand in northern Lebanon, by members of a Patriarchal delegation that toured quake-devastated areas in southeast Turkey, especially the Hatay province, over the recent period.
Members of the delegation cited the coordinated efforts undertaken by the Patriarchate to provide assistance to quake-stricken residents.
The development comes a day after another strong earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, shook the same area where a 7.8 tremor caused massive damages and fatalities on Feb. 6. Another six people perished in the latest earthquake, and hundreds were injured.
The total death toll from the natural disasters in the region, which also affected northwest Syria, now exceeds 46,000.