German rescue teams return from quake-hit Türkiye

BERLIN (AA) - German rescue teams have returned to the country after spending the past week in Türkiye to save earthquake victims from under the rubble.

Dr. Daniel Lankers, a member of the team from International Search and Rescue (ISAR) Germany, said they worked tirelessly to save lives in the earthquake region and were impressed by the fortitude and courage of the people.

“I have the utmost respect for the people I met there, who didn't lose hope and kept fighting to save their loved ones from under the rubble,” he told Anadolu at Cologne Bonn Airport.

“All my wishes and all my hope go to the people of Türkiye. They are incredibly strong people who have not stopped fighting and they continue to do so. All the best to you,” he said.

Members of Germany’s Turkish community welcomed the rescue teams at the airport, greeted them with flowers and small gift packs and expressed their gratitude for their efforts.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the rescue teams have returned to the country, but Germany will continue its support to Türkiye by delivering relief supplies to the areas hit by the earthquakes.

“I would like to thank the rescue teams of THW, ISAR Germany and other aid organizations for their commitment after the devastating earthquakes. They did everything to save lives and to rescue those buried under the rubble,” she said.

Faeser underlined that Germany will now focus on sending the most needed relief supplies to the survivors such as tents, camp beds, blankets and power generators.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the German Air Force has so far conducted 14 flights with A400M military transport planes and carried nearly 130 tons of relief supplies to Türkiye.

He said they now plan six more flights for Monday and Tuesday and will carry an additional 50 tons of humanitarian aid.

At least 35,418 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 tremors last week were centered in Kahramanmaras and struck nine other provinces – Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa. More than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes.

In neighboring Syria, at least 3,688 people were killed and over 14,749 injured.