Twenty-five people were killed and at least 804 injured when a magnitude-6.6 earthquake jolted Izmir on the Turkish Aegean on Friday, the Disaster Management Agency Authority (AFAD) said early Saturday.
20 SNIFFER DOGS WERE DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE
Search and rescue operations have been completed in eight buildings in Izmir — Turkey’s third-largest city by population — while work continues in nine others, according to Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum, who said damage assessment work has begun in public buildings.
More than 475 vehicles and nearly 4,000 rescue workers, along with 20 sniffer dogs, were dispatched to the scene.
MASKS AND DISINFECTANTS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED
The Coast Guard Command is participating with 116 personnel, 11 boats, three helicopters and one diving team. The Turkish Red Crescent sent 112 staffers, 137 volunteers, 27 vehicles and five mobile field kitchens with a capacity to serve more than 25,000 people.
Kerem Kinik, head of the Turkish Red Crescent, said a capacity to feed 56,300 people was created in Izmir. Also, 960 disaster tents, 4,500 blankets, 3,672 beds were sent to the region, according to AFAD.
Nearly 114,500 masks and 5,000 disinfectants were dispatched to the region to be distributed by the Turkish Red Crescent public health and psychosocial support teams.
A total of 836 vehicles and 6,049 personnel have been assigned to search and rescue, medical, psychosocial support and humanitarian aid in the region, according to Turkey’s Communications Directorate.
Also, three mobile coordination trucks, seven military cargo aircraft, one unmanned aerial vehicle, six helicopters and 292 security personnel were dispatched to the region, it added.
