Group of 33 Thais to return home from Turkey, one deceased as death toll surpasses 40,000

A group of 33 Thai nationals are scheduled to fly back from Turkey tomorrow with one deceased person also being returned home.

The Thai USAR (search and rescue) team will continue to stay and help in Turkey until their 10-day mission is complete.

The returnees and deceased person will arrive at Don Mueang Airport and will be sent to an infectious disease clinic for screening, according to Narong Aphikulvanich, the deputy permanent secretary of public health.

The Thai USAR team arrived last Saturday in Turkey and has since treated three injured Turkish people, including one who was admitted to the hospital.

According to Thai PBS World, Narong says that one member of the Thai team has an injured knee but was treated with antibiotics.

Two others have respiratory symptoms but were treated accordingly.

Narong says the second team is ready to be sent if the Turkish government requests.

He added that Thailand has sent medical supplies to both Turkey and Syria that are worth around 5.5 million baht.

The Thai Scouts Promotion Foundation donated 55 sleeping bags yesterday to the Ministry of Public Health to give to the Thai teams operating in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Thailand has also enlisted K9 dogs to assist in the search for victims.

Thailand’s Environmental and Social Foundation posted photos of the police dogs hard at work on Facebook yesterday with the caption…

Sierra and Sahara started their mission in the city of Antakya on Sunday, searching continuously for eight hours.

The dogs did not find any survivors but did find one body on Sunday.

To track the K9’s mission, follow updates from both the Environmental and Social Foundation as well as the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

The death toll from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria has reportedly surpassed 40,000 people.