SZ rescue team returns from quake-hit Türkiye

Members of the Shenzhen rescue team arrive at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint on Sunday night. Xinhua

Shenzhen's rescue team returned to Shenzhen from Türkiye at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint with applauses and cheers Sunday night after completing its rescue work in the quake-hit region in Türkiye.

On Feb. 6, two magnitude-7.8 earthquakes struck Türkiye’s southern province of Kahramanmaras one after another, causing devastating injuries and deaths, as well as property loss. Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Association made an emergency response, dispatching 22 members and volunteers to assist in the earthquake relief efforts.

The team members combed the quake-hit sites for days and nights, trying their utmost to search buried and missing victims, assisting in freeing three trapped survivors. The team also handed out and donated emergency supplies, including flashlights, tents and sleeping bags, to the survivors.

Members of the Shenzhen rescue team arrive at Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint on Sunday night. Yang Haohan

“The only thing we kept in mind was moving fast. We had to race against time to save more lives,” Chen Yuan, a team leader told Shenzhen Special Zone Daily on Sunday.

“We are back home now!” Chen was emotional when the Shenzhen rescue team returned to the city with its mission completed.

The Shenzhen command center also made contributions to the accomplished rescue operation. The center backed up the rescue team with timely information and technological support, and kept in touch with the frontliners to ensure their safety.

Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Association, established in 2008, is one of the most important social forces with emergency rescue capability. It has dispatched members in batches to participate in natural disaster relief efforts.