China sent team, relief materials to aid Türkiye after devastating earthquake

The first batch of Chinese rescue team headed for the worst-hit areas in Türkiye on Tuesday morning to help with the ongoing search rescue operation after Monday’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake, according to CCTV.

The rescuers from Ram Union, a Chinese nongovernment team, are composed with 8 experienced rescue experts.Carrying advanced radar life search instruments, demolition rescue equipment and a rescue dog, they are expected to arrive in Türkiye on Wednesday local time.

In addition, overseas Chinese in Türkiye are raising disaster relief materials, and the first batch of tents, sleeping bags, and blankets will be transported to relevant departments on Tuesday local time.

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has decided to provide the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Red Crescent with 200,000 U.S. dollars cash respectively as emergency humanitarian assistance.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Türkiye's southern province of Kahramanmaras at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT) on Monday, followed by several aftershocks, causing heavy casualties in the country and neighboring country Syria.

The death toll in two powerful earthquakes that hit southern Türkiye on Monday has risen to 2,921, with 15,834 people injured, Anadolu News Agency reported, citing Turkish disaster agency.

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported late on Monday that the death toll in Syria rose to 711, with 1,431 injuries.

The death toll is expected to rise in the coming days.