(VOVWORLD) -As of late Saturday, rescue force of the Vietnam People's Army had helped identify 14 locations in Turkey where victims were trapped in collapsed buildings caused by devastating earthquake which struck Turkey and Syria on February 6. In two of the 14 locations, there were signs victims might still be alive.
 Local people, volunteers, and Vietnamese rescuers at a search and rescue location. Photo:VNA
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The Ministry of National Defense said that its rescuers on Saturday found two locations where there were victims during their search operation at four locations in Antakya and handed over the scene to the local rescue unit to pull victims out.
The Ministry of Public Security's rescue team completed its seven-day mission in earthquake-hit Turkey and returned home on Sunday. After arriving in Adiyaman city on February 10, the team rescued a 17-year-old young man from the ruin, brought 14 victims' bodies from the collapsed buildings and handed them over to local authorities.
They also handed over medical supplies and medicine from the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), and the donations will be given to the largest hospital in Adiyaman. The Vietnamese rescuers visited and gave instant noodles and dry food to people affected by the earthquake.
Colonel Nguyen Minh Khuong, Deputy Director of the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department, described this mission as humane and of international significance as the Vietnamese team members were well-received by the people living around the area where the team was stationed, by the volunteers, who often went back and forth to coordinate with the rescuers, and especially Turkish coordinators. The team’s mission will contribute to strengthening the solidarity between Vietnam and Turkey, Khuong said.
As of 16:30 Sunday (Vietnam time), death toll of the earthquake passed 45,000, including 39,670 in Turkey and 5,800 in neighboring Syria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday called for an aid of 84.5 million USD to meet the medical needs of people in Turkey and Syria. A day earlier, the United Nations called for more than 1 billion USD for relief operations in Turkey and 400 million USD for the Syrians.