As local and international rescue teams in southern Türkiye continue to race against time with the slogan “don’t lose hope,” families of earthquake survivors rejoice as their loved ones are pulled out of collapsed buildings.
Two such international search and rescue groups from Pakistan were among those that brought relief to the residents of Adiyaman, one of the 10 provinces jolted by Monday’s powerful tremors.
The devastating earthquakes hit Türkiye early this week, resulting in the death of over 18,300 and levelling of thousands of buildings. Even four days later, relentless rescue efforts have kept hope alive.
The Pakistan Rescue 1122 team of 52 personnel landed in Türkiye on Tuesday, as did two military teams with a total of 33 soldiers along with specially-trained sniffer dogs and search and rescue equipment.
So far, they’ve rescued five survivors from under the debris of residential buildings in Adiyaman. “Pakistani soldiers brought joy to their families when they rescued alive two trapped residents in the region, while members of Pakistan Rescue 1122 helped save three people, pulling them out of the debris,” said an official from the South Asian country who was following the teams’ work.
Pakistan has flown three C130 military transport planes to Adana province, while two Pakistan Airlines flights carrying the search and rescue teams landed in Istanbul.
Another C130 flight has landed on Friday carrying medical supplies, tents, and blankets.
The official, who asked to remain unnamed, told Anadolu that Islamabad’s National Disaster Management Authority was coordinating the Pakistani search and rescue operations with Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).
After landing in Türkiye, said the official, “all forward deployment of search, rescue, and relief personnel is being done by AFAD on the basis of need assessment of the earthquake-affected regions.”
“Pakistan is also mulling to ship aid for earthquake victims in trucks using the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul route.”
On Wednesday night, Ambassador Yousaf Junaid and Pakistani Embassy staff visited a municipal donation point in the capital Ankara, delivering relief goods for earthquake survivors, including jackets, shoes, food, water, baby food, diapers, and sanitary items.
“I am confident, that with the traditional Turkish spirit of overcoming all obstacles and defeating all challenges, the Turkish nation will emerge out of this catastrophe stronger than ever and you will find the people of Pakistan always standing with you,” Junaid said.—Anadolu Agency
