It has been four days since the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria.
As of February 10 at 8 AM, 100 hours had passed since the tragedy occurred. A Korean Disaster Relief Team diligently packed their equipment from dawn on their second day at the disaster scene.
Despite the jetlag and lack of sleep, the Disaster Relief Team has no time to feel fatigued as they tirelessly continue to aid Turkey and Syria in search of survivors.
One relief worker told Yonhap News, “We can only hope for a miracle starting from today onwards.” The first 72-hour window after a tragic earthquake is called the “golden period,” which is the period of time for the highest chance of finding survivors. Starting from the fourth day, the chance of survival drops drastically, and the conditions have become worse with temperatures dropping below zero.
Nevertheless, the Korean Rescue Team continued its search for survivors without losing hope. The rescue team sent in rescue dogs for small spaces with barely enough crawling room.
Rescue dog Tobaek, a 6-year-old Labrador retriever, continued his rescue work despite an injury to his right front paw. The day before, he hurt his paw after he stepped on a sharp object. His paws were bandaged to prevent the wound from worsening as he had to quickly get back to work in search of survivors. Some netizens are asking for protective gear, including goggles and shoes, for the Korean rescue dogs.
The South Korean Disaster Relief Team continues its rescue efforts. But an official from the Turkey rescue team shared, “We were able to hope for survivors until yesterday, but now it is difficult to hope for any survivors.”