Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) will lead a major deployment of Australian personnel to the Türkiye earthquake zone, due to depart by Friday.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said out of the 72 Australian personnel, 52 will be FRNSW firefighters specially trained in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).
“The scenes which have played out in Türkiye and Syria in recent days are shocking and distressing, and NSW is ready and willing to do everything we can to assist,” Ms Cooke said.
“Our State is home to some of the most highly-skilled emergency services personnel in the world and I am certain they will make a valuable contribution to the response in the devastated communities.
“All of the personnel taking part in this mission have extensive training in rescue activities and I thank them for answering this call for assistance.”
FRNSW Commissioner Paul Baxter said the training and preparation firefighters undertake every day in Sydney will serve them well in Türkiye.
“Our FRNSW teams have extensive experience in USAR operations and I know they’ll be able to hit the ground running,” Commissioner Baxter said.
“It is always horrible to see incidents like this occur, but it is reassuring to know that we have such professional and specialised emergency crews to call upon to assist.”
FRNSW is the lead Australian agency in responding to this incident under the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group.
Other Australian personnel joining the deployment include the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, NSW Police Force, NSW Ambulance, NSW Health, NSW Public Works and ACT Fire and Rescue.
