HK search and rescue team to head to quake-hit Turkey

Hong Kong has sent a 59-member team to Turkey to assist with earthquake rescue work after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake jolted the country.

The Urban Search and Rescue Team of the Fire Services Department, officers from the Security Bureau, Immigration Department and Department of Health, were seen off by acting Chief Executive Eric Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung late Wednesday.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who is in the United Arab Emirates for a business trip, thanked the rescue team for flying to Turkey to save lives. 

“Let us all cheer for the rescue team. The SAR government will fully support the team and ensure they complete the mission smoothly,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Lee earlier expressed condolences to the victims of the earthquakes. He added that the government would pay close attention to the situation of Hong Kong citizens who stay in the affected areas and stand ready to render assistance in case of need.