India To Send Search & Rescue, Medical Teams Along With Relief Material To Türkiye

Search & Rescue Teams of NDRF and Medical Teams along with relief materials would be dispatched immediately from India in coordination with the Turkey government.

People search for survivors in Diyarbakir, on February 6, 2023, after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's south-east.

Source : AFP

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated to extend all help to Türkiye (Turkey) during an event in Bengaluru on Monday, India is sending in search, rescue and medical assistance teams. A meeting was held today at Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to offer all the possible assistance to Türkiye to cope in the aftermath of the earthquake. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, representatives of Ministries of Home Affairs, NDMA, NDRF, Defence, MEA, Civil Aviation and Health & Family Welfare.

Search & Rescue Teams of NDRF and Medical Teams along with relief materials would be dispatched immediately. Relief material will be dispatched in coordination with the Turkey government and Indian Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate General office in Istanbul.

Two teams of NDRF comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment are ready to be flown to the earthquake-hit area for search and rescue operations, PMO said in a statement. Medical Teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines.

According to reports from the Turkish Disaster and Management agency, the country was struck by a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale on Monday morning. The quake occurred near Gaziantep in southern Turkey, and its effects were felt as far away as Cyprus and Egypt.

The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday evening announced that the death toll in the earthquake has mounted to 912 with nearly 5,400 people reported injured.

Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel told ABP Live, "So far, 950 confirmed dead and 2900 buildings collapsed. While 5,385 have been injured and 2,470 have been rescued."

It is estimated that a large number of individuals are still trapped under the debris, and the death toll is predicted to increase as search and rescue teams scour areas affected by destruction in various regions.

The earthquake, which hit in the wee hours, also struck Syria while strong shockwaves were felt in Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel.