Romania Sends Rescue Teams to Türkiye following Devastating Earthquakes

Romania decided on Monday, February 6, to send Türkiye a specialized team specialized in search and rescue interventions with the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) to support the country heavily hit by last night and this morning’s earthquakes.

Romania received the request from the Emergency Response Coordination Center of the European Commission (ERCC) through the Common Emergency Communication and Information System (CECIS). The request of the Turkish authorities for the granting of international assistance following the emergency generated by the 7.8-magnitude quakes that hit the country generated the same response in Europe, and countries hurried to send personnel specialized in search and rescue.

Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Government of Romania decided to send specialized personnel for intervention in such situations with the IGSU, to Türkiye, the country heavily affected by last night’s earthquake. The support offered by the Romanian state was accepted by the Turkish authorities, specifying, at the same time, that the IGSU rescue teams, together with the SMURD Bucharest medical team (an integral part of INSARAG), together with the Romanian Air Force personnel with the MApN [the Ministry of National Defence], are already prepared for this support mission.

Romanian Government on sending rescue team to the affected areas in Türkiye

The cited source specifies that the support will be granted based on the request for international assistance formulated by the Government of the Republic of Turkey under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. A complex support team consisting of 58 people will be sent to Turkey, the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) announced.

The support the Romanian state offered to Türkiye consists in sending a complex team made up of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) RO-USAR specialized search and rescue forces, with dogs and related equipment, the search and rescue team with dogs trained for such situations with the Working Dog Club, physicians and nurses with UPU-SMURD Bucharest, and liaison officers with DSU.

Thus, with the support of the Ministry of National Defence, two aircraft belonging to the Romanian Air Force will carry out an international support mission in Türkiye on Monday, departing from Bucharest, with the Romanian rescue teams and related specialized equipment on board.