During the day of Wednesday, the rescue work of the Maltese contingent of the Department of Civil Protection continued in Malatya, Turkey.
The 32 officers are working in one of the areas most affected by the earthquake in Turkey. In fact the disaster is worse than what was thought before this contingent left our country.
These officers, who are working on a 24-hour basis, are not only working in very cold weather conditions but are also experiencing the tremors that are occurring after the earthquake.
With this work of the Department of Civil Protection it is expected to continue during the coming days. The Chief Assistance Rescue Officer, Kevin Pace, who is leading the Maltese team in Turkey said that the situation is full of challenges, including when it comes to communication due to the language and the elements of the weather.
He explained that currently the Maltese team’s job is to locate people who are possibly injured, and eventually they will be taken out from under the rubble.
In a phone call to the Civil Protection officers in Turkey, the Minister for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality, Byron Camilleri, reiterated that they are bringing honor to Malta in this difficult situation in Turkey and Syria, and they are conveying the great heart of the Maltese with their work.
Minister Camilleri reiterated that now apart from saving lives in Malta, they are also doing this beyond our shores.
Meanwhile, the Department of Civil Protection reminded everyone that an amount of supplies are being collected from the Maltese public to be sent to the people of Turkey and Syria. These grants are being received every day at the fire stations in Hal Far and Xewkija, Gozo, between 9am and 5pm. The Maltese public is encouraged to take food supplies, warm clothing, decks, tents and other material that is needed in the current circumstances of these countries.
