Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. rescue team waiting for Turkey quake go-ahead

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Feb, 2023 04:29 PM
  • B.C. rescue team waiting for Turkey quake go-ahead

VANCOUVER - A British Columbia search and rescue team is ready and willing to head to Turkey to help after a devastating earthquake, but it's facing multiple hurdles as it awaits approval from federal authorities.

Justin Mulcahy, spokesman for Vancouver's Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team, says "there has been no official request" from Ottawa to deploy the team.

B.C.'s Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma says the province reached out to Public Safety Canada on Monday morning, just hours after the quake, because such emergency assistance needs to be co-ordinated.

Ma says the province has since been in constant daily contact with Public Safety Canada but has "yet to receive direction."

The minister says she can't presume to know what conversations Global Affairs Canada is having with partners as she waits on a federal response.

Mulcahy says the Vancouver rescue team is also waiting on international accreditation from a UN-affiliated agency that would allow them to deploy on short notice.

"We're working on that through this accreditation process so we can be in a position in the future to be able to immediately deploy our teams internationally," Mulcahy said.

"Our focus has been on having these teams available for use locally, provincially and federally."

The Vancouver Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team operates under the city's fire department.

Taylan Tokmak, Turkey's consul general in Vancouver, said Wednesday that a separate volunteer group, the Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue Team, is already in the Turkish quake zone.

Ma says the Burnaby team "self-deployed" this week.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake, followed by several powerful aftershocks, ravaged parts of southeastern Turkey and northwest Syria, flattening buildings and killing many thousands of people.

MORE National ARTICLES

Dix 'delighted' premiers will meet PM on health

Dix 'delighted' premiers will meet PM on health
Adrian Dix says the premiers had long been asking to meet Justin Trudeau as they call on Ottawa to boost its contributions through the Canada Health Transfer. Dix says a "major impediment" has been overcome simply by agreeing to sitting down at the Feb. 7 talks in Ottawa, as the premiers had been asking to meet for two years.

Dix 'delighted' premiers will meet PM on health

129 cattle seized from B.C. property: SPCA

129 cattle seized from B.C. property: SPCA
They were also suffering from a range of medical issues, including untreated eye infections, lameness, inflamed udders, overgrown hoofs and diarrhea. The statement says "numerous carcasses" of dead cows were also discovered on the property.

129 cattle seized from B.C. property: SPCA

FortisBC Holdings to collaborate with First Nation

FortisBC Holdings to collaborate with First Nation
FortisBC Holdings says it respects Snuneymuxw's rights in relation to the potential effects of the project and is committed to sharing project benefits with the First Nation. It says Snuneymuxw has committed to supporting the projects and participating in the required regulatory processes.

FortisBC Holdings to collaborate with First Nation

Is COVID-19 still a global health emergency?

Is COVID-19 still a global health emergency?
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will make the final call based on the advice the committee gives him. He warned earlier this week that he remains concerned about the impact of the virus, noting there were 170,000 deaths from COVID-19 reported around the world in the last two months.

Is COVID-19 still a global health emergency?

Trudeau tells Liberal caucus to 'meet the moment'

Trudeau tells Liberal caucus to 'meet the moment'
Trudeau says his party will push for improvements in public health-care, build a green economy and continue to support Ukraine following Russia's invasion. He encouraged his caucus to build an economy that works for the middle class, and that will benefit future generations.

Trudeau tells Liberal caucus to 'meet the moment'

Another B.C. mill affected by forestry downturn

Another B.C. mill affected by forestry downturn
Western Forest Products announced Thursday that the mill will not restart "in its current configuration" and says a group, including the United Steelworkers and Indigenous partners, will spend the next 90 days seeking viable solutions for the operation.    

Another B.C. mill affected by forestry downturn