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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'No more signs of life': PH contingent to Turkiye ends SAR after 9 days

'No more signs of life': PH contingent to Turkiye ends SAR after 9 days

Published Feb 20, 2023 01:25 pm

The Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) officially stopped its search and rescue (SAR) operations in Adiyaman, Turkey nine days since its special mission in the earthquake-ravaged country started, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Monday, Feb. 20.

Photo: Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) to Turkiye via Office of Civil Defense (OCD)

A report from OCD Administrator Ariel Nepomuceno said the PIAHC’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team was waiting for the approval of the Turkish local emergency management agency (LEMA) to shift to retrieval operations. The team started its SAR operations on Feb. 10 and ended it on Feb. 19.

“USAR team is currently placed on stand-by awaiting requests for assistance on retrieval operations from the LEMA,” explained Diego Agustin Mariano, head of OCD joint information center.

“No more signs of life. More on retrieval operations na po ang tasking nila from local government in Turkiye (Their tasking from the local government in Turkiye is now more on retrieval operations),” he added.

Since the USAR team started its SAR mission, it has assessed 38 collapsed buildings and retrieved four cadavers.

As of Feb. 19, a total of 46,456 individuals have reportedly been killed while 119,025 others have been injured by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria last Feb. 6.

Meanwhile, the PIAHC’s Philippine Medical Emergency Assistance Team (PEMAT) continued to cater to injured victims in their field hospital at Adiyaman Otagon Bus Station.

So far, a total of 603 patients who needed treatment and trauma care were cared for by the PEMAT. Representatives from the Turkish Ministry of Health also dropped by the field hospital to see how the Philippine medical team operates and learn disaster techniques from them.

While waiting for the resumption of their mission, some members of the PIAHC also visited the Philippine defense and armed forces attache in Ankara, Turkey to meet the delegates there and get food provisions.

The OCD earlier stated that the PIAHC’s mission would only last for two weeks. The Philippine government would no longer send a second batch of responders to Turkey although it will extend additional relief assistance to the quake-hit country.

Related Tags

turkiye SAR OCD-6 Earthquake 2202022 retrieval operations PIAHC
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