Hampshire firefighters join search operation in earthquake-hit Turkey
Relief efforts have been hampered by damaged infrastructure and freezing temperatures
Last updated 9th Feb 2023
A group of British rescue experts say time is running out to rescue people alive in earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said nine of its firefighters are among 77 members of the UK search and rescue team in Turkey.
It said: "Our thoughts go out to all those affected."
UK International Search and Rescue team coordinator Mark Davey said it had taken a lot of organisation to get to Antakya due to the amount of destruction.
"Transportation is very difficult here, so it took a lot of organisation to get enough vehicles to bring us," he told the Associated Press.
"It took a long while to get a lot of the equipment over here on the vehicles, on buses. (We had) a lot of help from the local people as well - from bus companies."
Mr Davey explained the crew would conduct an assessment of the destroyed area street by street before sending the information back to the rescue team's command and control.
"We are logically going through the area. Street by street, gathering as much information as possible so we can send that back to our command and control.
"We organise the teams to come back with specific tools and actually prioritise each of the areas.
"Hopefully, we'll have some good news and get those people back and, repatriate, obviously with their loved ones, with their families."