Brazilian rescue mission in Türkiye praises support of local people, authorities

By Anna Cecillia Canatan

ANKARA (AA) – The Brazilian team in Türkiye, who are joining search and rescue efforts in Türkiye, have praised the support of local people and authorities during their mission in Kahramanmaras, the epicenter of the two powerful earthquakes last week that shook the country's southeastern region.

The team of 42 rescuers that arrived in Türkiye last Thursday encountered the extreme cold weather as the main adversary in the field, the Sao Paulo Fire Department (Corpo de Bombeiros PMESP), one of the contributors to the mission, said on Twitter on Sunday.

Turkish authorities provided the Brazilian team with all kinds of stuff against cold weather, including blankets, thermoses, and stoves, among other things.

The statement added that local people in Kahramanmaras also showed their support and sympathy by visiting the mission's camp.

At least 31,643 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye last Monday, according to the latest official figures.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 10 provinces, including Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck Türkiye in less than 10 hours.

Nearly 238,500 search and rescue personnel are currently working in the field, and over 158,00 people have been evacuated from the quake-hit regions so far, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

Around 9,800 foreign personnel from 74 countries are currently working in the field, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.