Rescue Türkiye: Vietnamese delegation races against time, eating instant noodles to overcome hunger

It should be understood that the longer the time, the lower the chance of saving survivors in the rubble. Currently, the lives of those waiting to be rescued can only be measured in seconds and minutes as there are many warnings of aftershocks after the earthquake that may occur in the coming days and the harsh winter is still dragging on.

Tuoi Tre reporter connected with Vietnamese rescuers in Turkey to inquire about their working and living conditions these days in your country.

Up to now, the rescue team of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has been in Türkiye for five days. The group set up three tents at a school to rest, and rescue forces from some other countries also gathered here.

Taking advantage of the lunch break, the reporter connected with Lieutenant Phuong through the network signal. He said that the brothers in the team were supported with a phone number to contact the unit. Currently, the phone signal is very weak, sometimes it is not. The delegation had just moved to an area with very weak power, and when talking, the electricity was also cut off. Clean water is no more.

"It's cold, it's at noon - 3 degrees Celsius, brothers are sharing to find firewood to burn. Since then, it has become colder and lack of water, so we only use bottled water to wipe people", Mr. Phuong share.

The weather and time zone difference also made everyone in the group lose their strength and had to try to adapt, especially for those in Ho Chi Minh City. In addition, the language barrier between rescue groups also makes coordination difficult.

But the welcome of the local people to the delegation warmed our hearts. Besides, the modern equipment brought by the delegation also made the rescue and rescue more convenient.

"This is an experience we will never forget, it is a lesson for the team members. The team is still trying their best to complete the task," Phuong said, adding that this was his first time. go through so many emotions. From the burst of joy when saving a victim's life, to the heartbreaking moments when having to bring out those who have gone forever.

Sharing with reporters, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Chi Thanh said that when performing the task, the team divided into two shifts, taking turns working so that each person had some time to rest and regain strength.

He said the weather here is also a big challenge, at night the temperature is minus 4-6 degrees Celsius, the first days are not used to it, it is difficult to sleep. After five days, although they have basically adapted, they are still "not very used to".

Poor and harsh living conditions. The shops are closed, the group mainly eats rice, instant noodles, bread...

"But with the international spirit, with love for people, compassion, the officers and soldiers in the team are determined to overcome challenges, unanimously complete the task excellently, and give their best support. for your country," said Lieutenant Colonel Thanh.

According to Reuters news agency, the focus of aid efforts to Türkiye and Syria after the February 6 earthquake has shifted to helping survivors. They are struggling with no shelter or enough food in the freezing cold.

Last week's 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated cities in both Türkiye and Syria, leaving many survivors homeless in the cold.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged problems in the initial response to the quake, but said the situation was now under control.

"We are facing one of the greatest natural disasters not only in our country but also in human history," Erdogan said in a televised address in Ankara.

Among those rescued in Turkey on February 14 were two brothers, aged 17 and 21, who were pulled from an apartment complex in Kahramanmaras province, along with a man and a young woman. Syria in Antakya. They were rescued after more than 200 hours trapped in the rubble.

One rescuer said more survivors could be found.

However, the United Nations warned that the rescue phase was coming to an end, with the next focus on providing shelter, food and schools for survivors.

At a field hospital in the southern Turkish city of Iskenderun, Indian army major Beena Tiwari said patients initially arrived with physical injuries, but that is slowly changing.

"Many patients now turn to post-traumatic stress disorder because of all the shock they've been through during the earthquake," Ms Tiwari said.

According to Reuters, families in both Türkiye and Syria say they and their children are dealing with the psychological consequences of the earthquake.

"Every time he forgets, he hears a loud sound and then remembers everything," Hassan Moaz said of his 9-year-old son in Aleppo, Syria.

"When he was sleeping at night and heard noises, he woke up and said to me: 'Dad, aftershocks!'" Mr Moaz said.

Goosebumps on the rescue story of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Chi Thanh in Türkiye, how did Ngoc Lan react? Phúc Sen18:31:04 28/04/2023Ngoc Lan admired and appreciated the rescue story worthy of going down in history of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Chi Thanh, a member of the Vietnamese rescue team who went to Turkey to help people affected by the earthquake. Two months ago, a terrible earthquake occurred in...