The first rescue teams and relief supplies from Pakistan have been sent to Turkey in response to the recent earthquake.
Countries around the world are rushing to help after the powerful earthquake in Turkey and Syria. At least 3,432 people were killed and 21,103 others injured in 10 provinces of Türkiye after two strong earthquakes jolted the southern part of the country on February 6. Over 8,000 have been rescued, Turkish officials said.
Pakistan sends rescue and supplies
The first rescue teams and relief goods reached Turkey on February 7 morning. “Pakistan Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying members of search and rescue teams and blankets from PAF Base, Nur Khan has landed in Turkiye,” a PAF spokesperson said in a statement.
Pakistan dispatched to Turkey two C-130 planes carrying search and rescue teams, medical squads, and relief goods including tents and blankets.
On Tuesday morning, a 50-member rescue team and 25 tons of relief goods also left for Turkey through a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight.
The second C-130 plane carrying seven tons of relief goods, including medicines, tents, and blankets, departed from Lahore on February 7.
Daily PIA flights carrying 15 and seven tons of relief goods to Turkey and Syria will begin on Wednesday, Pakistan’s state-run media said.
Pakistan Army’s media wing said they have sent two contingents of urban search and rescue teams comprising rescue experts, sniffer dogs, search equipment and a Medical team comprising army doctors, nursing staff and technicians along with the 30-bedded mobile hospital, tents and blankets to Turkiye.
President of Pakistan Red Crescent, Sardar Shahid Ahmad Leghari, met Turkish Ambassador Dr. Mehmet Paçacı and extended the donation cheque of $50,000 and expressed sorrow and his condolences for the earthquake victims.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will travel to Turkey on Wednesday to show their solidarity with the victims, local media reported.
PM Sharid said in a tweet that the destruction in Turkiye and Syria was mind-numbing. “24 hours after the devastating earthquake hit Turkiye & Syria, scenes of death and destruction are mind-numbing. It breaks the heart to witness the sheer scale of unfolding human tragedy,” he said.
