A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkey on the border with Syria on the 6th, causing more than 23,000 casualties. Taiwan’s search and rescue team consisted of 130 people and 5 search and rescue dogs. They set off in two batches to assist in the rescue. Minister of the Interior Lin Youchang said today that the earthquake in Turkey has been more than 120 hours since the local government began to send a large number of heavy machinery into the disaster site for excavation, and the search and rescue operation has become impossible. After the overall consideration of the search and rescue team commander, the Taiwan search and rescue team is expected to return on the 15th country gate.
Lin Youchang said through a press release in the evening that it has been more than 120 hours since the earthquake in Turkey. The local government began to send a large number of heavy machinery to the disaster site for excavation, and took over the SCC1. The site environment is harsh and search and rescue operations cannot be carried out. The AKUT search and rescue team decided to evacuate this afternoon, and the on-site search and rescue mission came to an end.
Lin Youchang said that after comprehensive consideration, the commander of the Taiwan search and rescue team is scheduled to evacuate on the morning of the 12th local time, and is expected to arrive at Istanbul Airport on the evening of the 14th to board an EVA Air special plane. The team is expected to return at 3 pm Taiwan time on the 15th. country gate.
However, Lin Youchang also said that the relevant evacuation routes and dates can only be achieved when the search and rescue team completes the task and the road, water and electricity conditions in the disaster area are in the best state. The batches need to be adjusted by the commander in real time depending on the actual situation on the front line.
Lin Youchang said that Taiwan’s search and rescue team rushed to the rescue in the first place after the earthquake. They not only served as the leader of task assignment in the early stage, but also raced against time to rescue the surviving victims with the cooperation of local search and rescue units, which won international appreciation. The friendship between the two countries also symbolizes the courage and perseverance of the Taiwan search and rescue team.
