Ningbo rescuers return after completing Turkiye mission

Four members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team finished their four-day rescue mission in Turkiye and returned to Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province on Feb 17.

From Feb 9 to 12, the four rescuers – Zhang Saixiao, Shu Jiancheng, Shu Chongjie and Huang Haihui – worked with seven other rescuers of BSR’s Zhejiang group in Malatya, a city near the epicenter in Turkiye.

Zhang was responsible for detecting signs of life at wreckage sites. Huang was the safety coordinator, and Shu Jiancheng and Shu Chongjie were responsible for the rescue operations.

In four days, their group saved two survivors and located 25 bodies.

"Aftershocks continued to threaten the region. On the first day, I climbed onto a wreckage site and felt strong shockwaves. It was the first time I've ever felt the power of an earthquake," said Zhang.

Despite the danger from aftershocks, rescue workers continued working to save more lives.

On Feb 11, they pulled a survivor from the rubble.

"It was miraculous. The survivor is 83 years old and had been trapped for 117 hours," said Shu.­

When asked the most memorable thing that happened in Turkiye, Zhang said that their efforts were recognized by locals.

 "Whether we were on our way to the earthquake-stricken areas or on our way back to Ningbo, we received applause and hugs every time we met Turkish locals and visitors," said Huang.