Jumeirah Mosque
UAE President orders to perform funeral prayers in absentia in mosques across the UAE after the Friday prayers for the victims of earthquake in Syria and Turkey. Image Credit: Gulf News Archives

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered that funeral prayers in absentia be performed for earthquake victims in mosques across the country.

The prayers will be performed in all mosques across the nation after Friday prayers.

Quake death toll rises to more than 17,500

The death toll from a huge earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria climbed to more than 17,500 on Thursday, as hopes faded of finding survivors stuck under rubble in freezing weather.