PH contingent recovers 2 more bodies in Türkiye

The Philippine Contingent USAR Team, as part of the humanitarian mission in the Republic of Türkiye conducted retrieval operations of two buried bodies in Sector N while the Emergency Medical Assistance Team met with officials from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkiye. (Photo: Jose Angelo Mangaoang/OCD via NDRRMC/Facebook)

MANILA – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Wednesday announced that the Philippine rescue units in Türkiye have recovered two more bodies as of Tuesday (local time).

In a message to reporters, the OCD said the urban search and rescue (USAR) team of the Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC) was able to recover two additional dead victims at an apartment complex within “Sector N” of the quake-hit country’s southeastern city of Adiyaman.

“Team resumed operations on one apartment complex within ‘Sector N’. Able to retrieve two additional dead victims,” it added.

The total number of bodies recovered by the PIAHC USAR team is now at four after two bodies were recovered on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) said it has served 168 Turkish patients from Feb. 11 to 14.

“The patients catered by the PEMAT are as follows: 11 February 2023: 14 patients served;12 February 2023: 41 patients served; 13 February 2023: 60 patients served; 14 February 2023: 53 patients served. Total: 168 patients,” the OCD reported.

OCD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV earlier said Ankara will no longer accept a second contingent from Manila to help in operations in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake.

The Turkish government, however, said the Philippines can send or donate non-food items, he added.