It was touching expression of gratitude to Turkish civil servants, as well as ordinary citizens at Istanbul Airportwhen Wednesday the Hellenic Rescue Team’s mission switched to returning the aircraft to Thessaloniki.

Images also broadcast by Turkish state television show 30 Greek rescuers, along with their trained dog Speedy, entering a Turkish airport terminal to constant and loud applause, first from airport staff and then from everyone present at the departure. building.

A search and rescue team from Greece, consisting of 22 people, was released in Istanbul by Havalimani to return home. pic.twitter.com/ezBQNROdjN

— gdh (@gundemedairhs) February 16, 2023

The Turks, in fact, created a corridor for the passage of the Greeks in the rain of applause, whom they considered heroes, knowing that the EOD acted in many buildings that collapsed in the earthquake-affected areas, and participated in the rescue of three people in the Antiyamansky district, etc.

Greek volunteers tested, according to their head, Ioannis Papastati, on Turkish television, the practical gratitude of the Turks, official and anonymous, creates images that show true friendship between neighbors.

“When we saw the power of the earthquake, our pain was great. We did our best, we did everything we could,” said I. Papastatis.

In fact, Istanbul Deputy Governor Özlem Bozkurt Gevrek awarded the Greek Rescue Mission with a plaque while rushing to hug several of the mission’s women.

Source: TRT, CNN Turk.