The Philippine Embassy in Turkiye on Saturday, Feb. 11, said four Filipino families were evacuated from the city of Gaziantep and they were brought to shelter in the Turkish capital of Ankara as the country suffers from the devastating impact of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake early last week.
In a statement, the embassy said that the work of its Philippine team in its ongoing relief, rescue, and evacuation operations in southeast Turkiye continues even as the week draws to a close.
It reported the evacuation of four families from the city of Gaziantep, more than 200 kilometers from previous operations in Antakya, Hatay.
The distressed Filipinos were traveled by sprinter buses for about 700 kilometers to reach Ankara.
“For the brave Filipinos who chose to stay for their family and their homes, the Embassy offered relief goods. However, among these Filipinos in Gaziantep who chose to stay, some kindly suggested that the Embassy give their share of the relief goods to those who need them the most. They said their situation was good and safe,” the statement read.
The embassy lauded the spirit of bayanihan in Turkiye, adding that Filipino communities in Ankara, Istanbul, and other areas “continue to pour in support for their fellow compatriots that have been successfully evacuated to the Turkish capital.”
“The Embassy appreciates these offers of spontaneous assistance, such as toiletries, clothes, and food, and will continue to mobilize all interested parties,” the embassy said, adding that “appropriate medical assistance has been extended to those in need.”
It asked affected Filipinos, which numbered to 248 living in the 11 heavily affected provinces, to reach out to the embassy and Filipino coordinators because this “will ensure that rescue runs and sweeps are efficient and that all will have the best chance to transfer to safer destinations.”
Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Elena Algabre, who was accompanied by the Consul General and the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché, thanked the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent Team who traveled to Turkiye in this time of crisis.
“The 82-man team is deployed to the neighboring Adiyaman province to provide crucial search and rescue and emergency medical assistance,” the embassy said.
The embassy stressed that it remains open for all information regarding Filipinos.
Those who need to reach out can do so via telephone and WhatsApp (+905345772344), via email at [email protected], and Facebook at www.facebook.com/PHinTurkey.
Turkiye and Syria were rocked by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Monday, Feb. 6, leaving thousands of people stuck in the debris of collapsed buildings.
The two major tremors and hundreds of aftershocks destroyed a reported 6,444 buildings across 10 provinces in Turkiye, which led to questions on the country’s building codes and infrastructure.
The death toll in Turkiye and Syria tops 23,700 as of press time.