Turkiye Earthquake: PAF C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying rescue team lands in Istanbul
Difficult conditions frustrate rescue efforts as death toll reaches 5,000 in earthquake hit country
A PAF C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying rescue team members and blankets has landed in Istanbul.
The rescue team includes a search squad and two technical rescue squads while a seven-member medical team has also landed in Istanbul.
A second C-130 aircraft carrying winterised tents and blankets will take off from Lahore today.
- According to the Turkish authorities, the death toll from the earthquakes centred in southeastern Turkey rose to 3,419, bringing the total number of killed, including those in northern Syria, to more than 5,000.
- The initial magnitude 7.8 tremor early on Monday brought down buildings as people slept.
- It was followed by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hours later amid several aftershocks.
As reported, Pakistan sent two aircraft carrying a 51-member search and rescue team and relief goods to Turkey to provide assistance in rescue operations.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan Air Force (PAF), a C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying rescue team members and blankets from PAF Base, Nur Khan has landed in Istanbul.
“The PAF aircraft is carrying relief goods from the people of Pakistan for the earthquake-affected brethren of Turkiye. The transport fleet of the Pakistan Air Force has always been at the forefront to respond to natural disasters and calamities both inland and abroad,” said the spokesperson of the Foreign Office.
In a separate statement, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) stated: “As part of Pakistan Support for Turkiye, urban search and rescue (USAR) and Rescue 1122 team boarded through PIA flight from Lahore to Istanbul today.”
As part of Pakistan Support for Turkiye, USAR & Rescue 1122 team boarded thru PIA Flt from Lhr- Istanbul today.
— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) February 7, 2023
Later on, second C-130 aircraft carrying winterized tents & blankets will take off from Lahore today. pic.twitter.com/RQvB7KuT4k
