A plane carrying Czech rescuers who had helped in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in the Turkish town of Adiyaman arrived at Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague on Friday afternoon. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which hit southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, claimed almost 44,000 lives, with 38,000 in Turkey alone. The Czech rescuers, who had worked tirelessly to extricate people from the ruins of collapsed buildings, saved two living people and a dog. They were praised by Interior Minister Vit Rakusan, who said they had given the Czech Republic a good name.

At the airport, the rescuers were welcomed by the ambassador of Turkey and Interior Minister Vit Rakusan. The training that the rescuers had received proved to be beneficial, as the logistics were mastered perfectly. The rescuers were made up of firefighters, doctors, construction engineers, and dog-handlers. They were able to execute 26% of the total performance of all 18 teams in Adiyaman.

Last week, the Czech Republic sent 68 rescuers to Turkey. The team was joined by another two firefighters at the weekend, who arrived with humanitarian aid and firefighting equipment on board a military CASA cargo plane. The humanitarian aid mainly consisted of clothing. The Czech Republic also sent blankets, health materials purchased through the Medevac program, surgical instruments, and 500 trauma sets from the Czech Red Cross to Turkey.

The rescuers’ dog handler, Matej Bartosik, said the locals responded beyond expectations, and the cooperation was perfect. Bartosik added that the local army had provided the background and provisioned the team with foodstuffs. Ambassador of Turkey Egemen Bagis thanked the Czech Republic and Czech citizens for their real friendship and solidarity.

The Czech rescuers had performed excellent work in Adiyaman, also appreciated by the locals. The general director of the Firefighting Authority, Vladimir Vlcek, said that the Czech team had executed 26% of the total performance of all 18 teams in Adiyaman. The earthquake was the worst natural disaster over the past century, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In conclusion, the Czech rescuers’ work in Turkey was highly praised, and they were commended for providing much-needed assistance in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. Their swift response, excellent work, and preparedness for the mission are testaments to their heroism and dedication to helping others in need. The Czech Republic’s efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Turkey also demonstrate the nation’s commitment to international solidarity in times of crisis.

Article by Prague Forum