Australian relief workers arrive in Turkey as earthquake death toll passes 37,000
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Australian disaster relief team arrives in Turkey with state-of-the-art equipment to help earthquake victims as death toll rises to 37,000
- Aid workers from Australia arrived in Turkey on Sunday.
- They took technical equipment to help find survivors
- Earthquakes in the region claimed more than 37,000 lives
Australian rescuers have surveyed collapsed buildings and houses turned to rubble as they prepare to relieve tired crews in a Turkish city devastated by a massive earthquake.
The federal government’s disaster relief response team has set up a base in Antakya, in Hatay province, awaiting instructions on where to focus its initial search and rescue efforts in the event of an earthquake.
The 72-person team, made up mostly of specialist firefighters from New South Wales, flew into the country on Sunday.
They brought state-of-the-art technical equipment to help find survivors of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6.
A team of 72 Australian relief workers flew to Antakya, Turkey, on Sunday (pictured, Australian relief workers searching after the February 6 earthquakes)
A team of 72 Australian relief workers (above) flew to Antakya after two earthquakes devastated the region on February 6.
Footage released by the foreign affairs department on Tuesday (Australian time) showed the team examining buildings turned to rubble, including those with wrecked cars meters above the ground.
The city was among the hardest hit by the country’s worst earthquake in modern history, which has claimed more than 37,000 lives, including three Australians, in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
Some Polish rescuers will leave the country on Wednesday as cold temperatures lower chances of survival, but the Australian crew hopes to replicate the rescue of two women and two children in Antakya on Monday.
The Australians’ telescopic cameras and seismic detection devices can detect slight movements of survivors trapped underground.
Australian workers (above) examine buildings turned into rubble, including those holding wrecked cars meters above the ground
Antakya (above) was among the hardest hit by the country’s worst earthquake in modern history, which has claimed more than 37,000 lives.
Australian aid also brought state-of-the-art technical equipment (above) to help find survivors of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6.
“The rescue kit also includes a host of tools, including jackhammers, power drills, metal cutting equipment, heavy lifting, concrete cutting chainsaws and rope systems,” Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Australian contingent will work 24/7 in 12-hour rotations, relieving exhausted international crews already deployed under United Nations agreements.”
The team landed in the city of Adana on Sunday night before being transferred to Antakya.
Search and rescue teams walked through the streets of the city, seeing the widespread destruction.
“The Australians have transported their own food rations, water purification, first aid kits and tents and have created a fully self-sufficient base camp so as not to impact local communities and authorities,” Fire and Rescue NSW said.
The team leader, Chief Superintendent Darryl Dunbar, is expected to address reporters in Antakya on Tuesday night.
The team of aid workers landed in the city of Adana on Sunday night before being transferred to Antakya (an Australian aid worker pictured)
The leader of the Australian relief team (above), Chief Superintendent Darryl Dunbar, is expected to address reporters in Antakya on Tuesday night.