Turkish envoy honors Austrian rescue team for efforts after twin quakes

By Askin Kiyagan

VIENNA (AA) – The Turkish envoy in Austria on Monday honored the Austrian rescuers who have now returned home after their mission in Türkiye, whose 11 southern provinces were hit by twin quakes on Feb. 6.

Speaking at a ceremony in Vienna to give medals to members of the Austrian army’s rescue mission for their efforts in Türkiye, Ambassador Ozan Ceyhun called the team members heroes.

Stressing that Turkish people now see them as close friends, he said “they have eased our suffering in these difficult days.”

Austrian Defense Minister Kladuia Tanner, for his part, also expressed respect for the team that rose to the occasion.

"We can be sure that there were moments for them when they had to push their limits,” she said.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes were centered in Kahramanmaras and struck 10 other provinces – Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Hatay, Gaziantep, Malatya, Kilis, Osmaniye, Elazig and Sanliurfa, claiming over 41,000 lives. More than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes.

*Writing by Ahmet Gencturk