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Rescue teams around the world are leaving to help Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake

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Rescue teams from around the world, including the United States, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, Greece, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Russia, left to be deployed to Turkey after the devastating earthquake hit the southeastern region of the country.

The earthquake affected 10 cities and claimed more than 1,600 lives, with the number of injured exceeding 11,000, according to official reports.

185 aftershocks have been recorded so far.

Azerbaijan was the first country to respond by sending a team to Turkey’s aid.

The country has sent a team of 420 personnel to assist with rescue operations in the region.

Azerbaijan will also send two planes of humanitarian aid to those affected by the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, which affected 10 provinces.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan, it was reported that two planes carrying humanitarian aid materials will leave for Turkey in the near future, on the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev.

The statement stated that one of the planes has a fully equipped field hospital. Azerbaijani doctors will work in the hospital, which will be located in one of the earthquake zones.

On the other level are items such as tents, blankets and heaters.

The Greek rescue team, consisting of 21 firefighters, two doctors, three emergency medical personnel, search and rescue dogs and specialists from Greece’s Special Disaster Response Unit (EMAK), also left to be transported to support search and rescue efforts in Kahramanmaraş.

The team left Elefsina Airport near Athens and arrived at Incirlik Air Base in Adana via C-130 aircraft of the Hellenic Armed Forces.

Dimitris Roupas, President of EMAK, stated in a press conference that his team is experienced and ready to work professionally to save as many lives as possible, just as they do in their own country.

In a show of mutual aid, Greece and Turkey have supported each other in times of need in the past, such as the 1999 Marmara earthquake in Turkey and the 1999 Athens earthquake.

It was also said that Swiss experts and rescue workers with service dogs were ready to fly to earthquake-stricken Turkey at Zurich airport.

Italy sends support from the Ministry of Civil Protection. Rome said other flights would follow with medical personnel and equipment.

Meanwhile, the United States is sending two 79-person search and rescue teams to help Turkish officials respond to the earthquake.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States is “deploying” teams of 79 in addition to personnel already on the ground “to support Turkish search and rescue efforts, and to help attend to the needs of everyone who has been injured or displaced by the earthquake.”

“USAID and the Pentagon are now coordinating with their Turkish counterparts on additional assistance,” he told reporters, referring to the US foreign aid agency. “And of course, US-supported humanitarian partners will respond to the devastation inside Syria.”

The Israeli military said it had sent a search and rescue team of 150 engineers, medical staff and other aid workers to Turkey. The delegation was scheduled to leave Israel on Monday evening. The military said it would provide “immediate assistance in life-saving efforts.”

The joint humanitarian aid team “Olive Branches”, consisting of the IDF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense, will depart from Israel for the earthquake-affected areas in Turkey.

The team, made up of Israeli Air Force planes, will depart from Nevatim Air Base and are expected to begin the search and rescue mission upon arrival. The statement said a pioneering team had already left for Turkey earlier Monday afternoon.

The plane carrying a rescue team and humanitarian aid has already left from Uzbekistan to the earthquake-affected areas in Turkey.

The statement made by the Presidential Office of Uzbekistan said that the rescue team of 100 people from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan has left and the plane is carrying vehicles, special equipment and humanitarian relief materials from Tashkent airport with the aim of reaching Tashkent airport. Participate in relief efforts.

Japan will send an international emergency rescue team to the quake zone in Turkey as well.

The team, consisting of a command team of three and a rescue team of 15, will depart from Haneda Airport and arrive in Adana via Istanbul. The team is scheduled to arrive at Istanbul Airport at 6:25 am local time on Tuesday.

It was reported that Taiwan sent a 40-person search and rescue team to Turkey.

According to the Taiwan News Agency, the National Fire Agency (NFA) announced that 40 search and rescue personnel, along with three specially trained dogs and 5 tons of vehicles and equipment, left for Turkey on a Turkish Airlines flight at 10:25 p.m. local time (5:25 p.m. TSI).

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that earlier a rescue team of 100 personnel and two IL-76 aircraft had been prepared to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Malaysia will also send a search and rescue team to assist in relief efforts as well.

“A total of 75 members of the Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) will be dispatched to Turkey tonight via a Turkish Airlines flight, bringing with them equipment that will be used in search and rescue operations,” the Malaysian minister said in a statement.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that it had mobilized troops and drones from the Military Emergency Unit to assist Turkey. Spanish aid and personnel arrived at Malatya Airport, where the Turkish authorities had set up the International Aid Center.

“Spain is preparing additional aid that the affected countries and their populations may need,” she added.

The Spanish Embassy in Ankara said later in the day that a unit with extensive experience in earthquakes and people recovery around the world was escorting Spanish forces to Malatya. The embassy added that the unit was previously provided to help Turkey two years ago to put out forest fires with aircraft.

Polish firefighters also flew from Warsaw to the Turkish city of Gaziantep.

“Our team will work non-stop, 24 hours a day, in two locations,” said Andrzej Bartkoviak, chief of the State Fire Service.

Rescue workers from Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic have also been deployed to the quake-hit region of Turkey, along with members of the Lebanese army.

Qatar said it would send 120 rescue workers to Turkey, along with “a field hospital, relief aid, tents and winter supplies”.

The official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered “help” in phone calls with his Syrian and Turkish counterparts.

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) said that the UAE has already sent its first plane to southern Turkey, where it plans to establish a field hospital.

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