The Portuguese team in Antakya has still not found anyone alive in one of the cities hardest hit by the quake, but hope “will never die” until demobilization time, the mission commander assures.
“Unfortunately, we still haven’t found anyone alive. We’ve already experienced a lot of deaths, but the goal is to find and save someone alive”told Lusa news agency the commander of the Portuguese ground operation, José Guilherme.
There are 52 civil protection, GNR and emergency medical services on the scene, including six dogs, divided into two teams working approximately 12 hours a day and operating 24 hours a day in support of search and rescue, as of Wednesday morning , Antakya, southeastern Turkey.
Days pass and “the time window is getting closer and closer, but the hope in these teams will never disappear,” assures José Guilherme.
“Until the moment of demobilization, we will always believe that we can find someone alive,” he stressed, but stressed that, given the days that have passed, finding a person alive, in the middle of the rubble, will be “a miracle “..
Filipe Rocha, head of the team working in the center of Antáquia in the morning, admits that the work is “frustrating”, but he maintains the same hope as his commander.
“We are doing our best and although six days have passed, we are confident that we will still save someone,” he stressed.
On the ground, operators use ‘drones’ to map the stricken area and spot particularly critical buildings, while other professionals scour the ruins for possible survivors, using dogs, trained to spot any signs of life among them. discover the rubble.
Despite Commander José Guilherme admitting that the work proves to be “intoxicated”, it is “a very honorable job”.
“These teams are committed to what their skills, qualities and professionalism are,” he stressed.
For José Guilherme, the work of the Portuguese agents was characterized by “dedication, availability and selflessness”.
“The Portuguese people should be proud of these professionals,” the commander added.
Source: DN
