Swiss team joins rescue efforts for Taiwan earthquake victims
Armed with experience from the recent disaster in Turkey, teams from several nations, including Switzerland, arrived in Taiwan Wednesday to help rescue victims of another earthquake.
Armed with experience from the recent disaster in Turkey, teams from several nations, including Switzerland, arrived in Taiwan Wednesday to help rescue victims of another earthquake.
The United States, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Japan, Singapore and Israel dispatched experts, while the United Nations said it was sending a disaster assessment team.
Switzerland, Germany and Austria operate as a joint team with 77 rescue officials, 15 sniffer dogs and 16 tons of special equipment.
China, which normally threatens the Beijing-claimed island with annexation, has sent condolences, $160,000 worth of disaster aid and offers of further assistance.
Tuesday’s powerful earthquake left more than 1,700 people dead and some 100,000 homeless. The death toll is expected to mount as teams dig through the rubble of collapsed buildings.
From staff and wire reports.
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