A firefighter from Battersea Fire Station has been praised for “being instrumental” with the rescue of a woman from the earthquake wreckage in Turkey.
Sarah Mimnagh, 31, is part of the UK International Search and Rescue team in Turkey and was deployed to help with humanitarian efforts just 60 hours after the first initial call for aid.
The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes that struck nine hours apart on February 6 in south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria has passed 35,000.
Sarah explained how her team worked together to free a woman trapped in wreckage following the devastating earthquake.
She said: “Trying to get in to rescue people is very hard.
“A member of the public ran up to us when we arrived and said they thought someone was in the rubble. We could hear a voice.
“The team then got to work straight away, the team worked tirelessly.
“I am quite a small person so the void tunnel was about 15 metres in, it was something I could manage to get into, the more I dug meant I was able to get to her head, and the sound of her voice became louder.
“We worked together as a team and managed to rescue a 66 year old lady – it was amazing.”
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Sarah is just one of the 77-strong team from UK fire and rescue services that arrived in Turkey last week.
This includes long with four specialist search and rescue dogs to assist with search and rescue operations following the devastating earthquakes.
Sarah explained that the team base their centre of operations on the outskirts of Hatay, at the stadium, along with many members of the international search and rescue community.
She said: “This is my first deployment overseas working for the UK-ISAR team.
“When we initially got the call it was Monday morning and I was about to start work at Battersea fire station.
“Sixty hours later we were on the ground at a scene of absolute devastation.
“The rescue operation is still very much ongoing.
“In my day job at London Fire Brigade we put ourselves in situations. We do risk assessments, in the search and rescue world we all know we do very well when we have trust – trust in my team – in that situation it’s huge.
“I trust if I go into that void they will get me out.”
The fire crews specialist equipment includes seismic listening devices, concrete cutting and breaking equipment and propping and shoring tools.
The team deployed through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office following a request for assistance from the Republic of Türkiye, after it announced its highest level of state emergency (level The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which brings together 15 leading UK aid charities, says its Turkey earthquake appeal has raised £52.8 million in two days – including £5 million in aid matching from the UK Government.
International development minister Andrew Mitchell told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday the situation is “bleak beyond belief” and suggested the death toll could reach 50,000.
Praising those who had supported the relief effort, he said in a statement: “It is thanks to the generosity and compassion of the British people that the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal has reached the extraordinary total of £52.8 million, which includes £5 million of match funding from the British taxpayer.
“This would not have been possible without the kindness and support of the British people. Thank you.”
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