Gul will remain a few hours at the quake site, to demonstrate Turkey's solidarity with the victims, the minister announced on Tuesday.

A powerful earthquake decimated the ancient city of Bam in southeastern Iran on Friday, claiming an estimated 40,000 lives and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

Iran's neighbour Turkey has dispatched medical and rescue teams, sniffer dogs and humanitarian supplies to the scene.

Turkish emergency workers have experience in responding to earthquakes -- two major tremors hit Turkey's northwest in August and November 1999, claiming about 20,000 lives.

TERRA.WIRE