40 Romanians needed consular assistance following the terror attacks in Istanbul airport and have been accommodated to the hotels nearby Ataturk Airport, while efforts are being made to repatriate the people whose flights had been cancelled, the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry informed on Wednesday.
“During the night, the consular staff with the Romania’s General Consulate in Istanbul went to the hospitals in the city to check if there are also Romanians among the victims of the blasts. The consulate will remain in touch with the Romanian citizens accommodated in Istanbul or near the airport’s free area. Romanians tracked down by the consulate are not injured, except for one person who presents bruises on the legs due to the jam caused by the panic. However, his life is not in danger, the person has been evicted and accommodated to a hotel shortly after the explosions,” reads a MAE press release.
Other 40 Romanians have asked for support, and they have been helped to find accommodation at the hotels nearby the airport.
At the same time, the families of over 20 Romanian citizens who were at the airport during the blasts have been contacted by the Romanian Consulate in Istanbul.
Former PM Victor Ponta was also in Istanbul on Tuesday night, heading to the Ataturk airport when the terror attacks occurred but his car was turned back by the Turkish authorities.
Ponta told Mediafax news agency that he was in his car and headed to the airport when he was forced by the authorities to turn back following the attacks. He said he would come back in Romania on Wednesday morning.
Romanians and their relatives can call at the General Consulate in Istanbul +90 2123583541, +90 2123580516, +90 2123583537, as well as at the emergency mobile phone of the consulate + 90 5335420695.
During the previous night, MAE’s call center took over about 10 phone calls from the Romanians who were at the airport during the blasts.