KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) is giving its full commitment to facilitate all rescue flight and cargo operations passing through the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), following a devastating earthquake that hit southeast Turkiye early Monday morning.
The airport is owned and operated by MAHB.
MAHB managing director Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said they were also in close coordination with the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry to provide additional help in the form of transit accommodation at SAW’s Airport Hotel to 75 Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) personnel before their deployment to the affected areas.
“As the airport operator, we are giving our full commitment to facilitate all rescue flight and cargo operations passing through SAW. The first rescue flight departed at 0841 (8.41 am) local time and since then six other rescue flights had departed from SAW carrying a total of 1,400 rescue team members.
“We are equally devastated by this recent tragedy and extend our most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the tragedy. We will continue to offer all possible assistance,” he said in a statement.
Iskandar Mizal said SAW is one of two airports designated by the Turkish government to serve as a rescue and logistics hub, where the General Aviation Terminal at SAW is being utilised as a crisis management centre with the airport providing all necessary support, including food for the rescue team.
The earthquake, which hit near the city of Gaziantep, has killed 2,921 people in Turkiye and nearly 1,300 people in Syria, according to media reports.
The Foreign Ministry said no Malaysians were reported to be affected by the earthquake so far.
— NNN-BERNAMA