He spoke about the Greek mission in the earthquake-affected regions of Turkey. cathimerini.gr Lieutenant General of the Fire Brigade and Chief of Fire Operations Athanasios Balafas.

Mr. Balafas first noted that at this particular moment the Greek group works in sector B1 of the city of Antioch with 25 rescuers, a doctor and 2 paramedics. “We also have two search and rescue dogs and two trapped search and rescue vehicles,” he said.

Question What difficulties did the expedition face?Mr. Balafas replied that any mission to a foreign country in such circumstances, and especially in the context of a catastrophe of enormous and multifaceted proportions occurring outside the EU, is undoubtedly a challenge in terms of the difficulties and obstacles that have to be overcome to contribute in the best way cope with the consequences of this disaster.

“The difficulties that the outgoing rescuers and the personnel coordinating the operation had to face were enough. First difficultywas, on the one hand, race against time for immediate mission arrival and deploymentas the infrastructure, road network and even telecommunications failed.

The obstacle to our direct transport there was overcome with the direct contacts of the political and physical leadership, as well as with the help of the embassy, ​​with the assistance of the Greek Air Force and the presence of a C-130, where he could transport a special rescue vehicle, a sufficient number of rescue and specially trained dogs, and as well as operating equipment.

I am unable to obtain any information regarding the dispatch of additional rescue teams to assist in the relief effort in Turkey. After all, it also depends on the intention of the Turkish government to request additional assistance.

Every business has its idiosyncrasies and challenges, and every event is unique. Among the most difficult operations, we can characterize the tsunami in Thailand due to the particularly large area of ​​the affected area and the remoteness from our country.

EMAK has engaged in numerous enterprises abroad, including:

1. Armenia, Leninakan-1988 (Earthquake)

2. Turkey, Ertsizan-1992 (earthquake)

3. Egypt, Cairo-1992 (Earthquake)

4. Turkey, Izmit-1999 (earthquake)

5. Turkey, Duse-1999 (Earthquake)

6. Cyprus-2000 (Forest fire)

7. Algiers, Boumerdes-2003 (earthquake)

8. Iran, Bam-2003 (Earthquake)

9. Morocco-2004 (Earthquake)

10. Thailand-2004 (Earthquake)

11. USA, California-2008

12. Israel-Haifa-2010 (Forest fire)

13. Albania-2019 (Earthquake)

14. Lebanon, Beirut -2020 (Explosion)

15. Turkey, Antioch-2023 (Earthquake)