ALBAWABA - Following the significant 7.4-magnitude earthquake that rocked Taiwan on April 4, seven Turkish search and rescue experts have arrived in Taipei, the country's capital. Taiwan had officially declared its welcome of Turkish aid.
Search and rescue operations are still in progress in Hualien, which is on Taiwan's eastern coast, following the seismic incident.
Support has arrived from Turkey in the shape of a team skilled in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations to supplement local response efforts. The Turkish crew, which specializes in drone technology, landed in Taipei on Saturday and will now travel to the affected areas.
The head of the Central Emergency Operation Center (COEC), Interior Minister Lin Yu Chang, said that the Turkish team, with its advanced equipment, is the only foreign relief group that Taiwan has approved for technical support.
Lin highlighted the Turkish experts' significant skills by stating that they will mainly concentrate their efforts in the critically impacted Taroko Gorge. Lin also added that Turkish search and rescue personnel would work with Taiwanese teams to equip their equipment with thermal imaging cameras.
The number of fatalities has increased to 13 in the 48 hours after the earthquake, according to comments from the COEC. Additionally, 1,145 people have been injured, 442 people are trapped, and 6 people have been reported missing.
