The Dutch search and rescue team USAR has now pulled eleven people from under the rubble in the Turkish city of Hatay after last Monday’s strong earthquakes. The team will travel to another part of the city today. The death toll from the earthquakes has risen to more than 15,000.
“We were still busy last night, but now we will work in another area of the city,” said Jop Heinen, spokesman for the USAR rescue team. The team was also asked for advice on a rescue attempt by a team from another country. ‘An approachable underage boy is still trapped, but it seems impossible to free him. Incredibly sad.’
The USAR team consists of employees of the police, fire, ambulance services and defense who have been specially trained for this. There are also eight rescue dogs. The four rescue groups work 24/7 in alternating shifts.
According to USAR, there are still many signs of people trapped under the rubble. “Sometimes we come into contact with trapped people. They’re reasonably safe but they can’t get out,’ says Heinen. “Sometimes we see people holding out for a long time. We keep searching and saving as long as we can.” Usually 72 hours is the critical survival limit for people buried under rubble.
Since Wednesday, the team has also been coordinating the deployment of other international rescue teams active in the area. This is done at the request of the Turkish authorities. There are teams from the UK, Italy and Switzerland among others, with more on the way. “The teams come from all over the world, even from Ukraine,” says Heinen.
More than 15,000 dead
The death toll in Turkey and Syria from massive earthquakes on Monday has risen to more than 15,000. In Turkey, according to counts by the authorities and aid workers, at least 12,391 people died. In Syria, the death toll stands at 2,992, bringing the total to 15,383.
Rescuers in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş rescued a 5-year-old girl and her parents 73 hours after devastating earthquakes. Don’t know how they are.
Source: BNR
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