Embassy kicks off relief mission in Türkiye; Philippine rescue ops team arrives

Residents and rescue personnel search for victims and survivors through the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, on February 8, 2023, two days after a 7,8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey. Searchers were still pulling survivors on February 8 from the rubble of the earthquake that killed over 11,200 people in Turkey and Syria, even as the window for rescues narrowed. For two days and nights since the 7.8 magnitude quake, thousands of searchers have worked in freezing temperatures to find those still alive under flattened buildings on either side of the border.

AFP / Ozan Kose

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Embassy in Ankara has already kicked off its relief operations in the earthquake-hit southeastern parts of Türkiye with the assistance of local authorities.

There are 248 Filipino nationals based in quake-hit provinces. Two Filipinos who were injured have since recovered, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

"We are thankful that a number of our kababayan are safe and we will not give up hope for those that cannot yet be conducted," the foreign service post said in a statement on Thursday. "The Embassy will act swiftly and decisively for all confirmed reports."

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/09/2243743/embassy-kicks-relief-mission-trkiye-philippine-rescue-ops-team-arrives