TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Four days after the devastating earthquake in Turkey, Taiwan sent its 3rd search and rescue team to help with disaster relief on Thursday (Feb. 9).
As the earthquake wreaked havoc on air and land traffic, Taiwan's emergency response team took many connecting flights, arriving in Urfa, Turkey, from Istanbul.
According to disaster relief experts, the first 72 hours after an earthquake is the most valuable "rescue window," and search and rescue teams worldwide wasted no effort in getting to Turkey in time.
At the airport, the Taiwan team could be seen unloading various advanced equipment that would help with the search, including life detectors and infrared thermal imagers.
In addition, every search and rescue team member also carries a 10 kg backpack to hold their sleeping bags, change of clothes, and epidemic-prevention gear.
As the rescue window gets tighter, emergency response teams are doing their best to speed up the rescue process and get help to as many survivors as possible.