Korean Emergency Relief Team Rescues 3 More Including 2-Year-Old Girl and Father in Turkey

On the morning of the 9th (local time), members of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) are rescuing survivors trapped inside buildings collapsed by the earthquake in the Antakya area of Hatay, Turkey. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The South Korean emergency relief team dispatched to Turkey, which suffered damage from the earthquake, rescued three more people on the morning of the 9th (local time).

At around 10 a.m. that day, the relief team rescued 40-year-old Mr. Mahmet and his 2-year-old daughter, Ms. Ruz, from among the collapsed five-story residential buildings in Antakya, Hatay Province, Turkey. They also successfully rescued an additional 35-year-old woman.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "The survivors are a father and daughter, a 40-year-old man and a 2-year-old girl, and a 35-year-old woman," adding, "The 35-year-old woman suffered a finger fracture, but it has been confirmed that there are no major health issues among all the survivors."

In a further announcement, they stated, "Among them, the 35-year-old woman is not related to the 40-year-old man and the 2-year-old girl, who are father and daughter," and "The 35-year-old woman does not wish to disclose her identity."

The previously rescued father and daughter show signs of dehydration but are conscious. Their body temperature is slightly low, but their overall health condition is relatively good.

However, although the toddler was rescued, it was reported that the child had already passed away.

The relief team is continuing rescue operations for the remaining family members of those rescued from this building. It is estimated that there are one or two more children inside the building.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the South Korean emergency relief team rescued a male survivor in his mid-70s at around 5 a.m. on the 9th.

This man is the first survivor rescued by the Korean emergency relief team. He is currently conscious and confirmed to have no major health problems.

The emergency relief team arrived at Gaziantep International Airport in southeastern Turkey the previous day and has been conducting relief activities in Antakya at the request of the Turkish side.

The emergency relief team consists of a total of 118 members: 1 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 49 from the Ministry of National Defense, 62 from the Fire Agency, and 6 from KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency). This is the largest scale ever dispatched by the government.