News
Taiwan rescuers return home, recount stories
A search and rescue team deployed by Taiwan to earthquake-struck Turkey was welcomed back to Pingtung last night.
The rescue workers from the Pingtung Fire Bureau's Special Search and Rescue Team were part of a 130-person team that departed for Adiyaman Province in southeastern Turkey on 7 February.
Upon returning to their home base at 10pm, they were distributed bonus pay and containers of chicken essence to help them recover from fatigue. The unit's deputy commander Chen Shih-hung said the subzero temperatures in Turkey had created difficult rescue conditions, though the team was constantly receiving provisions of firewood and even food and drinks from local residents.
He said the image of the 70-80% of collapsed buildings in Adiyaman is stamped to his eyelids.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southeast Turkey and neighboring Syria Monday, and the death toll currently stands at over 41,000.
Members of the public in Taiwan have donated more than NT$800 million to a relief fund for those affected by the quake in Turkey.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare says donations to the government-established fund continued to pour in, reaching NT$801 million as of 17:00 on 15 February.
The ministry says those wishing to add to the more than 150,000 cash donations received so far can do so by sending money to the fund's Bank of Taiwan account.
Or for more information on where to send donations to quake victims, please go to icrt.com.tw.
