The German government wants to temporarily ease visa restrictions for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria who have close family ties to Germany if they face homelessness or injury, The Associated Press reported.

However, not all of the requirements of the regular visa process are waived. Applicants must still be able to show a valid passport, which is likely to be an obstacle for people fleeing collapsing buildings.

Several million people in Germany have Turkish roots because more than 60 years ago West Germany recruited guest workers from Turkey and other countries to help the country develop economically.

More recently, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees arrived in Germany because of the war that broke out in their homeland.

The German government has said it will quickly ease the usually very strict and bureaucratic visa conditions, adding that the foreign ministry has already increased its staff in Turkey and reallocated capacity at the visa centers there.

Earthquake victims who want to seek asylum in Germany and apply for a three-month visa must prove that they have close family members in Germany who have German citizenship or permanent residency rights, German news agency dpa reported.

The German host family member must submit a declaration promising to pay for the living expenses and subsequent departure of the accepted person.