Rescue dogs helping search for survivors in Turkey

Middle East, News February 10, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Many countries sent their rescue teams to Turkiye and Syria to help find survivors after the devastating earthquake. These teams are also bringing trained search and rescue canines with them.

The most famous among them are the search and rescue dogs from Mexico. These canines became a symbol of the country’s resilience and garnered international attention after they were deployed in rescue efforts following Mexico’s Puebla earthquake in 2017 that killed hundreds in Mexico City.

Mexico sends its famous search and rescue dogs to Turkey to help find survivors. At least 16 Mexican search and rescue dogs, and their handlers, boarded a plane to Turkey on Tuesday, to help locate and save people from the rubble. “The heart of our rescue team is currently flying to Turkey,” Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary. Ebrard shared a video of the canine team, which included Belgian Malinois, Australian Sheepdogs, and Labradors.

Mexico sends its famous search and rescue dogs to #Turkey to aid with finding buried earthquake victims and survivors after the devastating earthquakepic.twitter.com/XXeiSXxYkz
— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) February 8, 2023

Four of the dogs that are now in Turkey are Rex, July, Orly, and Balam. Rex, a German Shepherd, and July are part of the civilian team from the Red Cross. Orly and Balam are two dogs from the Mexican Navy. There’s also a veteran rescue dog named Ecko, a Belgian Malinois, who helped with recovery efforts after the 2017 Puebla earthquake.

Turkish media called the rescue dogs the “unsung saviors of Turkiye’s earthquake victims”. Local reports say that dogs continue to work ceaselessly in earthquake-hit zones as essential members of emergency response teams. Rescue dog Köpük, who is working with the Turkish disaster management authority (AFAD) teams, has helped rescue six people.

*^{Mexico’s rescue dog and handler preparing to assist with rescue operations from the recent earthquake. (Image Credit: Twitter/Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations)}*

Dogs play a crucial role in the rescue team, working closely with human handlers to locate people trapped after earthquakes, floods, and other disasters. They sniff piles of rubble desperately as he looked for signs of life.

Rescue canines helping the earthquake victims

Mexico is not the only country sending dogs to help with the rescue efforts continuing in Turkey and Syria.

Swiss rescue dog service REDOG is sending 22 rescuers with 14 dogs to Turkey.

The United States has sent six specially trained dogs with search experts to Turkey.

The United Kingdom search-and-rescue dogs arrived in Gaziantep, Turkiye. Britain also sent 76 search-and-rescue specialists with dogs.

China has sent its four search-and-rescue dogs along with 20 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment.

A team from Germany, including 42 experts and seven dogs, also arrived in Turkey.

Croatia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Greece, Pakistan, Libya, Taiwan, India, and South Korea are all also deploying canines with their handlers. Many countries have also sent or pledged donations of medical equipment, emergency supplies, and financial aid.