Jakarta, IO – Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the Indonesian rescue team in Turkey is now carrying out the second phase evacuation of Indonesian citizens and several foreign nationals who were affected by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria last week (6/2). The efforts are focused on hard-hit areas including Hatay and Kahramanmaras.
“Five Indonesian and three Filipinos will be evacuated in the second phase,” said Retno, reported CNN Indonesia, Tuesday (14/2).
Indonesian Embassy in Ankara previously managed to evacuate 120 Indonesian citizens, two Malaysians and one Myanmarese. They are now sheltered in the capital Ankara, which is unaffected by quake.
The mega earthquake has so far killed 36,217 in both countries. It is considered fifth deadliest disaster in the past two decades. A number of international communities and many countries have sent aid in solidarity.
Indonesia sent relief logistics and a rescue team (65 Medium Urban Search and Rescue/MUSAR personnel). The first batch arrived on February 12 in Adana, Turkey.
Read: Indonesian govt sends relief mission to Turkey
The second batch arrived today, consisting of 119 Emergency Medical Team (EMT) personnel and a support team as well as medical equipment. The government says there will be a third batch of assistance to be sent this weekend.
“The third phase is scheduled to depart on February 18, 2023 consisting of four aircrafts carrying 80 tons of humanitarian logistics, not only to Turkey but also to Syria,” said Retno. (un)