The group of 20 Panamanian rescuers from the Joint Task Force (FCT) that supported the search for survivors after the earthquake in Turkey, arrived this Friday in Panama City, after working in the province of CahRamanMaras, located to the southeast and a one of the most affected by the earthquake on February 6 in Turkey. Later, they were in the province of Hatay, to continue the rescue work. The Turkish government and the population greeted the rescuers with honors by giving them flowers as a token of appreciation.
It was up to the First Lady of Panama, Yazmin de Cortizo and the Minister of Government, Roger Tejada, to receive the rescuers in the air terminal.
In a brief ceremony, the authorities delivered plaques of recognition to the delegation of rescuers for the humanitarian work carried out in Turkey. While friends, family, colleagues and a delegation from the Turkish Embassy in Panama were present at the Tocumen terminal to applaud, hug and thank the rescuers.
The Panamanian ambassador to Turkey, Mariela Sagel, following instructions from the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen, coordinated with the Turkish government for the transfer of the Panamanian rescue team, which it supported in solidarity in the face of the emergency situation.
The USAR Panama team, specialized in light structures, which was also made up of two guides and two specialized dogs in search of people in collapsed structures, had as its primary mission saving lives by searching for people in collapsed structures.
The group was made up of specialists with more than 20 years of experience in canine search, rescue, planning, evaluation, logistics, medical and paramedical, made up of SINAPROC, SENAFRONT, SENAN, National Police, Meritorious Fire Department of Panama, Caja de Social Security, Panamanian Red Cross, and who has had successful experiences in search, rescue and salvage in similar situations in the 2017 earthquake in Mexico; Forest fire in Chile, 2017; Hurricane Otto, in Costa Rica in 2016; earthquake in Ecuador, 2016 and Haiti in 2010, missions that were fully accomplished.
In February 2022, the USAR-Panama GROUP successfully participated in the Second Regional Simulation of Humanitarian Assistance that took place in Guatemala City, in a hypothetical scenario of an earthquake, a regional exercise in which a lot of experience was acquired that allowed to maximize and measure its logistical and operational capacities to face this type of situation.
A USAR team, as defined by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), specializes in locating, extricating, and initial stabilizing personnel trapped in confined spaces or under rubble due to structural collapse.
