PH rescue team recovers more bodies in earthquake-hit Turkey

A general view of a destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine rescue team has recovered more bodies buried under the rubble in earthquake-hit Turkey, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Friday.

As of Thursday, the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team has retrieved the remains of six more victims trapped and buried under the rubble of 36 buildings.

“The USAR team was able to retrieve six dead victims buried in the rubble for the whole duration of their search and retrieval operations,” the OCD said in a statement.

READ: Earthquake death toll in Turkey rises to 43,556, minister says

The Philippine medical team has also treated a total of 938 patients.

The 82-man interagency contingent has been sent to the earthquake-hit country since February 9.

They are expected to stop their rescue operations on February 24 and return to the country no later than March 1.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6 claimed the lives of 43,556 people, according to a Reuters report on Thursday.

JMS