Turkey's Defense Minister said today (Monday) that nearly 60,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland after earthquakes in February destroyed their homes in Turkey .

"About 60,000 Syrians living in Turkey have returned to their lands due to the loss of their homes and relatives," said Hulusi Akar, who is on the border line of the quake-hit southern Hatay province.

The minister denied allegations of an influx of refugees from Syria , stressing that the Turkish borders are strictly protected from illegal crossings.