On February 8th, 2023, Turkey and Syria were met with unthinkable tragedy when an earthquake recording a magnitude of at least 7.8 struck both countries, causing widespread casualties as well as damage. An appeal for international aid has triggered a global rescue response from countries across the world, with Malaysia joining in the effort by sending in two teams to the disaster zone as well as pledging a financial donation.
Malaysian SMART team rescues family of 5 from collapsed residential building
On Saturday (February 11th, 2023), it has been reported by local newspaper The New Straits Times that members of the MAS-01 Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) had miraculously managed to save a family of five earthquake victims from underneath the rubble of a collapsed residential building in Nurdagi, Turkey.
This came after the 24-strong team, including tracking dog Frankie, had mobilised to a new search area after obtaining new information from the reconnaissance unit that was located 1.3km away from the national team’s base camp located at Nurdagi Stadium, according to Malay Mail.
With the local team reporting that they heard sounds emerging from underneath a section of rubble, they promptly deployed the use of Life Detector Six Sensor System and Victim Simulator (Delsar) equipment and located the victims underneath two metres of rubble.
“At first we expected there to be three victims, but after communicating through the Delsar equipment the victims said there were five of them trapped together in a room under the rubble,” SMART MAS-01 search and rescue operations officer (SAR) Insp Muhamad Zul Khairi Idris told members of Malaysian media.
Upon establishing their location, special tools were used to cut away tangled concrete irons before load-bearing struts were used to help create a clear path through which rescuers could enter to retrieve the victims.
The first victim to be saved, a teenage boy, almost brought the entire team to tears when he exclaimed ‘takbir!’ (Allahuakbar), after emerging to the surface. This was promptly followed by the other members of his family, before all were saved by 2.20pm (7.20pm Malaysian time) and handed over to medical authorities.
4 officers & tracker dog Denti told to rest
In related news, four members of the Malaysian SMART team as well as tracker dog Denti have been advised to rest due to health concerns today. As reported by Utusan Malaysia, MAS-10 Team Leader Abdul Manaf Che Isa said four of the officers came down with a fever and sustained injuries to their hands and shoulders due to on-ground weather conditions.
Denti on the other hand, suffered from a flu and has also been put on sick leave to recuperate. In spite of the minor setback, Che Isa assured that ongoing rescue efforts will not be affected.
The death toll from the earthquake has now risen to over 34000 people, reports CNN.
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