Sweden sends search and rescue teams to Türkiye
The people of Türkiye and Syria have been hit hard by the recent earthquake so Sweden is sending a team of personnel with search dogs to the area today. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is carrying out this operation in close cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces.
Vehicles about to be loaded into a Boeing C-17 at Blekinge Air Force Base F17, Ronneby. Sweden has no C-17s of its own but is a co-owner of the three planes that make up the European heavy airlift wing, a collaboration between Sweden, Finland and ten NATO countries.
Loading cargo and crew on Boeing C-17 from Blekinge Flygflottilj F17. Photographer: Jonas Holmberg, Swedish Armed Forces.
Loading cargo and crew on Boeing C-17 from Blekinge Flygflottilj F17. Photographer: Jonas Holmberg, Swedish Armed Forces.
Boeing C-17 take off at Blekinge Flygflottilj F17. Photographer: Jonas Holmberg, Swedish Armed Forces.
Sweden is sending more resources to help in the post-earthquake work. The search and rescue teams specialise in locating and helping trapped people to escape and moving them out of the ruins. A medical team will also provide direct care for these earthquake victims. Just as in all our emergency operations the team, together with the receiving organizations, will make needs assessments as concerns how they can best help and how their skills can be used to most advantage.
“The input that is underway today is part of the total support package that Sweden is contributing. From the Civil Contingencies Agency side, we will continue to provide the resources necessary to help and facilitate this important rescue work in Türkiye and Syria,” says MSB Director General Charlotte Petri Gornitzka.
This effort is part of Sweden's crisis support for Türkiye’s earthquake victims. As early as Tuesday, a team consisting of requested expertise travelled to Türkiye after Sweden answered a request through the coordination centre within the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. These experts assist in the work with, for example, logistics, IT connection and administration.
The Agency works both via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and via the NATO Mechanism for Disaster Relief to assist in the alleviation of the effects of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Civil Contingencies Agency’s work linked to the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye