Adana, Turkey/Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) The first search and rescue team from Taiwan to arrive in earthquake-hit Turkey has established a sector disaster response coordination center in the city of Adiyaman, the National Fire Agency said Wednesday.
Taiwan has sent two search and rescue teams and five search and rescue dogs to Turkey to help dig out survivors trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings following Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
The death toll in southern Turkey and northern Syria had passed over 8,700 as of Wednesday, as rescuers battle harsh winter conditions in the search for survivors.
The first 40-member Taiwanese team arrived in Adiyaman shortly before noon Wednesday (Taipei time), where they sought to report to a regional disaster response coordination center, Taiwan's National Fire Agency said.
The Taiwanese team reported to the United Nations Reception/Departure Center (UNRDC) to set up a regional disaster response coordination center (SCC1, sector coordination cell 1) after receiving approval from the local government, Chin Ta-wei (金大衛), a squadron leader under Taiwan's National Fire Agency (NFA) told CNA.
The Taiwanese team assisted all search and rescue teams in Adiyaman to coordinate task dispatching, on-site assessment operations, and establish a databank of disaster-affected areas to help on-site search and rescue teams carry out operations, according to the fire agency.
Also on Wednesday, Ugur Kezik, a Turkish disaster relief coordinator in the city of Adana, said that a second Taiwanese search and rescue team would also join the first team's efforts in Adiyaman.
After reaching Istanbul earlier Wednesday, the second Taiwanese search and rescue team, consisting of 90 members, was headed to the southeastern city of Adana, where they will need to check in at a United Nations-run disaster response center, said Chen Wei-ling (陳韋伶), an official of Taiwan's National Fire Agency.
After reaching Adana, the second team will procure fuel and gas tanks before departing for Adiyaman to meet with the first team, according to Chen, who said the drive time between the two places is around five hours.
