All the images, as Leicestershire firefighters touch down in Turkey

They've joined nearly 80 other firefighters from crews across the UK

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 9th Feb 2023
Last updated 9th Feb 2023

A team of firefighters from Leicestershire and Rutland Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) are 'on the frontline and searching through the rubble' in Turkey.

'The right team for the job'

LFRS' global crisis response group have reacted to similar disasters before, but won't have experienced anything more devastating than the earthquakes that hit South-Eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, this week.

That's according to Head of Operational Response Matt Cane, who says he's "proud" of his team:

'They will be on that frontline searching through the rubble. They'll have specialist listening equipment with them that will help them to identify if there are people moving within voids of collapsed buildings.'

'We've got quite an experienced team in Leicestershire because we've previously deployed to areas like New Zealand for the earthquake, Nepal, we've been to a tsunami in Thailand. We've got quite an experienced group of people.'

The four LFRS firefighters have joined nearly 80 others from crews across the UK, to help and support local emergency rescue efforts.

Current weather conditions aren't helping the situation, but the team is 'well-equipped' with specialist tools to save as many lives as possible:

'The live pictures make this look like a particularly difficult scenario for them to be going to to be working in, and the really shocking death toll that's associated with this earthquake makes this look like, certainly, one of the most significant earthquakes our crew would've deployed to', Mr Cane added.

'At the moment the weather conditions in Turkey will make this really difficult, it's snowing. Temperatures are around minus four degrees, it doesn't warm up much during the day at the moment. We're staying in touch with our team to make sure they're fit and well.'

The LFRS firefighters are expected to return in the next 2-3 weeks.

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