Taiwan search and rescue team arrives in Turkey

Courtesy of ICRT

The first of two Taiwan search and rescue teams being sent to Turkey to help find those trapped in buildings damaged by Monday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake has arrived in the affected area.

The 40-personnel and three search and rescue dogs are now operating in the southern Turkish province of Adana, which suffered major damage and is one of the worst hit places.

A second team, comprised of 90-personnel and two search and rescue dogs, flew out of Taoyuan International Airport late last night and is expected to arrive in the affected areas later today. That team was seen off at the airport by Premier Chen Chien-jen.

President Tsai ing-wen has taken to social media to express her deepest condolences for the lives lost in the earthquake. Tsai said that Turkey was the first country to send a search and rescue team to Taiwan to assist after the 921 earthquake in 1999 and Taiwan is bound to join hands with Turkey to help it tide over the difficulties.