Turkiye earthquake: SMART officers assigned to coordinate entry of foreign SAR teams

PETALING JAYA: Three officers from the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) team have been assigned to oversee operations at the Reception Departure Centre (RDC) at the Adana Airport in Turkiye, says the Foreign Ministry.

Wisma Putra said the officers were assigned by the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) to coordinate the entry of search-and-rescue (SAR) teams from other countries.

It added that their duties at the RDC are based on the mechanisms and guidelines determined by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (Insarag).

“The Malaysian contingent was also among the first to arrive at the scene and will act as the focal point to assist Turkiye’s disaster response agency as well as the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) at the RDC.

"They will be replaced by other arriving teams at a later point,” it said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 12).

It added that five survivors were rescued by the Malaysian SAR team since the earthquake occurred on Monday (Feb 6).

“The Malaysia SAR team in Gaziantep have also stated that tents with winter insulations, blankets, heaters, mobile toilets and baths and sleeping bags, among others, were critically needed for rescue victims.

“Those intending to contribute towards victims of the Turkiye and Syria earthquake can do so through the Foreign Affairs' Calamity Fund,” it said.

Contributions made are also eligible to be claimed as income tax deductions under Subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act (ITA) 1967, it said.

As of Sunday, more than 28,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkiye and Syria on Monday.