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First Bulgarian rescue teams have arrived in Turkey

Still no connection with missing Bulgarian in Iskenderun

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Rescue teams search for survivors in the rubble of a destroyed apartment building in the city of Iskenderun, February 6, 2023.
Photo: EPA/BGNES

The first Bulgarian teams of a total of 19 people immediately after their arrival in the Turkish city of Adana left for two destroyed sites, said the Bulgarian ambassador to the country Angel Cholakov, who is also in Adana after the devastating earthquake in Turkey. 

In Iskenderun, Hatay province, there is still a missing Bulgarian citizen, with whom no connection has been established. He is a Bulgarian with dual citizenship, the ambassador said, adding that at the moment there is no information about other injured Bulgarian citizens. 
Ambassador Cholakov points out that the atmosphere in Turkey is dramatic, people are scared and dejected, but they have full trust in their authorities.



27 Bulgarian volunteers are leaving for Turkey on February 7, Georgi Vlaikov, the chairman of the "Emergency Rescue" Association in Plovdiv, told BNR. They will travel by bus and are expected to arrive in the disaster area in 24 hours.

Turkey is experiencing an unprecedented disaster in its history. The length of the fault lines after the earthquakes is 350 km., 30,000 square metres is the affected area with 13.5 million inhabitants. 10 districts have been affected, Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Eileen Sekizkök told BNT.

"In Gaziantep, we have 3,500 people who have been found dead. 5,900 buildings have completely collapsed. Over 20,000 people are injured so far. We are afraid that these numbers will increase," added the ambassador.




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