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K9 and handler from Lydenburg part of earthquake rescue efforts in Turkey
The SAPS K9 sniffer dogs have been deployed as part of the Gift of the Givers mission after a horrific earthquake recently occurred in Turkey.
The founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr Imitiaz Sooliman, praised the SAPS K9 unit, Omani searchers and members of Gift of the Givers as they were instrumental in finding an 80-year-old woman alive under the rubble on Monday February 13.
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Warrant Officer Tinalia Gouws of the Lydenburg K9 Search and Rescue assisted with her sniffer dog, Donna. The dogs and handlers are part of Sarza, formerly known as the Off-Road Rescue Unit.
Sarza shared the following about the relief effort on its Facebook page: “During our deployment in Turkey as part of the Gift of the Givers response team, we have seen massive devastation and heartsore. The various teams from different countries are working together to perform their search tasks, motivating one another towards a common goal.”
The rescuers are part of the South African relief effort that was deployed to Atakya Merkez (in Turkey’s Hatay province) after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked south-east Turkey near the Syrian border on February 6.
The quake struck at a depth of 17.9km. According to Reuters, the death toll has passed 35 000. Visit the www.giftofthegivers.org for more information about its relief efforts.
