ANKARA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Red Crescent Society said late Sunday it has sent a rescue team to northern Iraq following a strong earthquake that hit the region.
Kerem Kinik, chairman of the charitable organization, was quoted by the state-run Anadolu Agency as saying that its rescue team in Erbil of Iraq "was headed to the earthquake-hit region."
Another emergency team was also on the way to northern Iraq from Turkey, the report added.
Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Sunday Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and Turkish Red Crescent Society have started preparations to provide medicines and basic necessities such as blankets.
The National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) and emergency response teams are ready to provide aid to the quake-striken region in northern Iraq, Turkish Health Minister Ahmet Demircan said.
"We have made arrangements and we are ready to offer assistance to northern Iraq, in case of a demand for aid," he said, adding Turkey was attempting to contact northern Iraq.
A strong earthquake measuring 7.2 magnitude hit Iraq's northern province of Sulaimaniyah on Sunday, according to the official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
It remained unknown if the quake caused any casualties or damages, but Iranian media reports said at least eight Iranian villages were damaged near the Iraqi border.
