KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian government is sending the nation’s special search-and-rescue team (Smart) to assist in the search-and-rescue mission in Gaziantep in southeastern Turkiye.
Prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this came in response to the country's request for international assistance following the disaster earlier today.
“There was a request from Turkiye after the terrible earthquake struck. I have instructed the (relevant) minister to prepare the teams and aid immediately,” he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters, here, this evening.
This is after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit the area at 4.17am local time (9.17am Malaysia time) at a depth of about 17.9km, killing at least 386 people as buildings collapsed.
Similarly, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties), Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the government is now sending the Smart team to the location after getting approval from the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said his ministry has received confirmation that the Turkiye government has sought assistance in the search-and-rescue mission.
“A total of 75 personnel will be sent to Turkiye tonight through Turkish Airlines, together with equipment needed for the search-and-rescue operation," he said in a statement.
“The Smart team has received recognition from the International Search and Rescue Advisors Group in 2016, allowing the team to be sent to participate in disaster missions in other countries,” he said. – The Vibes, February 6, 2023
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