Kent Firefighters Battle Rubble in Turkey After Devastating Earthquake
Three brave Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) tech rescue firefighters shared gripping tales of their work with the international search and rescue team in the aftermath of the huge earthquake that rocked Turkey.
A City Wrecked: “Almost Completely Devastated”
Maidstone firefighter Jim Chaston described the scene: “It’s a really large city that’s almost completely devastated by the earthquake.” The team witnessed total destruction firsthand, as thousands of buildings crumbled in south-eastern Turkey and neighbouring Syria.
Jim recalled a tense rescue operation: “We ran a dog through the area, and it gave us a live indication that there was a living human scent.” After locating the victim, the team worked tirelessly to tunnel through debris. “We managed to make a small enough hole to get our smallest member through into the void and make contact with the casualty.”
It took around three hours to widen the hole and bring the trapped woman to safety. “There was a lot of local interest around us and just a great feeling of elation when we finally managed to rescue her.”
Saving Lives Beneath the Rubble
KFRS firefighter Brad Rebbeck, from Deal fire station, played a key role in rescuing a 60-year-old woman trapped under a building. “We’ve made such a difference in someone’s life who wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t done what we did. It’s definitely an experience I’ll never forget,” he said.
Fellow firefighter Martin Stanley, normally from Canterbury station, was moved by the devastation on the ground. “I’ve never seen anything like it; it’s total devastation and people are completely broken. I don’t think I can put into words what it’s like; the entire city is completely destroyed; it’s unbelievable.”
UK Search and Rescue Team’s Heroic Efforts
The trio formed part of the UK International Search and Rescue Team, sent to Turkey the day after the earthquake hit on February 7. They helped save two adults trapped for 120 hours and a two-year-old girl who had been trapped under rubble for 101 hours.
The disaster, with a monstrous 7.8 magnitude quake, left millions homeless and terrified. Aftershocks and freezing temperatures made rescue work even more dangerous.
The UK-wide appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee continues to raise funds for those affected, with charities like the British Red Cross and Oxfam stepping in.
Meanwhile, the owners of Turkish restaurant Alim-Et in Larkfield announced they are donating their entire weekly takings to help survivors. They plan to buy blankets, baby and children’s clothes, food, and toiletries for those in need.
The disaster has already impacted 13 million people out of Turkey’s 85 million population, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
