Austria’s armed forces have suspended rescue operations in earthquake-hit Turkey due to an “increasingly difficult security situation,” a spokesman said on Twitter on Saturday, Reuters reported.

In Turkey, rescuers are still looking for people under the rubblePhoto: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

Austrian Defense Ministry spokesman Michael Bauer tweeted that the Austrian Disaster Response Force (AFDRU) was ready for further rescue operations when the working environment became safe.

“The chances of saving a life bear no reasonable relation to the security threat,” Lt. Col. Pierre Kugelweiss said on Saturday. “Aggression between groups is increasing in Turkey,” he added.

The AFP news agency reported clashes between unidentified groups and said Austrian troops were holed up in a base camp with other international organizations and were awaiting instructions.

A total of 82 rescuers of the Austrian armed forces have been in the Turkish city of Antakya since February 7, so far their specialists have pulled nine people out from under the rubble.