Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20) — The Philippine contingent in the search and rescue operations in quake-hit Turkey, now called Türkiye, is expected to return to the Philippines on March 1, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said on Monday.
“Nag pre-prepare na tayo sa pagbabalik nila kasi hanggang February 24 ang mission nila doon [Türkiye] and, hopefully, they will be back in the Philippines [by] March 1,” Assistant Secretary and NDRRMC spokesperson Raffy Alejandro said during the government-sponsored Laging Handa briefing.
[Translation: We are now preparing for their return since their mission in Türkiye is until Feb. 24 and, hopefully, they will be back in the Philippines by March 1.]
Alejandro said Türkiye is no longer discussing nor requesting to extend the stay of the Philippine rescuers.
“Wala na search assignment yung ating team doon. Nag aantay lang sila ng request from the local authorities doon,” Alejandro said.
[Translation: Our team no longer has a search assignment there. They are now only waiting for a request from the local authorities there.]
Alejandro also said the Philippine search team has assessed 38 buildings and found four bodies since Feb. 10, while the medical team has assisted 603 patients since Feb. 11.
The death toll has climbed to 40,642 in Türkiye while 108,000 injured were recorded, NDRRMC reported on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Philippine embassy in Ankara confirmed the death of a Filipina and her three children who were earlier reported missing in Türkiye after the quake.
READ: Filipino mom, her 3 children dead in Türkiye quake – PH Embassy
