When the Earthquake struck Turkey on Monday, 6th February, UK ISAR was promptly mobilized to assist on behalf of the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office as part of the EDT 2 program.
A Heavy Team of 77 specialists, including Search and Rescue Technicians, four canines, a vet, a structural engineer and a medical team consisting of a Dr and a nurse, were deployed and flew to Gaziantep and established their Base of Operations (BoO) in Hatay.
Fire & Rescue services included Cheshire FRS, Essex FRS, Greater Manchester FRS, Hampshire FRS, Kent FRS, Lancashire FRS, Leicester FRS, Lincolnshire FRS, London Fire Brigade, Merseyside FRS, Mid & West Wales FRS, Scotland FRS and West Midlands FRS.
Along with the team, they deployed 12 tonnes of equipment, including tents, sanitation, water, food rations, search and rescue equipment, search cameras, medical equipment, veterinary equipment, command and support- all to ensure they were self-sufficient to ensure no additional burden was placed on Turkey.
During their operation, the team worked around the clock to ensure maximum search and rescue operations. The team successfully rescued eight people, with one intricate and complex search taking more than 20 hours to complete.
The team was deployed for over a week and returned home on 15th February, landing at the Stansted airport to a salute from fire engines, flowers and a reception which included a representative from the Turkish consulate and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office.
View BBC News footage covering the dramatic rescue of Serdol Bingöl by UK ISAR. The rescue took place after the catastrophic earthquake. The team worked tirelessly to save Bingöl, who was trapped under the rubble for hours. Following the incident, there was an emotional reunion via Zoom between the rescuers and Bingöl, highlighting the profound impact of their lifesaving work.
For the actual footage and more details click here.
