Calls growing to send top Vancouver SAR team to Turkiye for earthquake relief
Members of the Turkish-Canadian community are wondering why Vancouver’s top search and rescue team has yet to be deployed to Turkiye to assist with earthquake relief.
The Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team (HUSAR) – also known as Canada Task Force 1 – is one of five major teams in Canada trained to enter scenes of destruction.
Sina Kutluay, a member of the Turkish Canadian Society, says his group feels disheartened that the SAR team hasn’t been sent.
"Were are just very disappointed that Canada is responding so late,” he said. "I can guarantee you if this happened in Canada, Turkiye teams would be here as first responders … We send our rescue teams all over the world.”
A smaller SAR team of about 10 people from Burnaby left for Turkiye earlier this week, however the Vancouver unit needs the green light from Ottawa to head over.
“I’m sure if you asked any of our team members, we would love to be deployed," Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry told CTV News.
"It’s what we do. We jump at any opportunity to help where we can."
Fry says members are standing by, and gear that’s already at the airport can be shipped overseas if the federal government gives them the nod.
“The probability of us being deployed when there is already resources on the ground and not knowing the full context or ask is probably a little more challenging,” she said.
The team has had international deployments in the past, including one for Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.
Joining the calls for more help is Turkish international student Kaan Tascioglu, who says family and friends are struggling back home.
"I spoke my friend. She lost her parents, mom and dad,” he said.
Tascioglu says his family is safe but has had their homes severely damaged. He says assistance is needed quick.
“We need help from other countries," he said. "Yes, they're helping, I know, but it's not enough. There's too many people waiting in the buildings."
CTV News has reached out to the federal government for comment, but has not received a response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.