Reposted from wjla.com
WASHINGTON (7News) — Fairfax County first responders are helping those impacted by deadly earthquakes in Turkey nearly one week after being deployed overseas.
Members of VA Task Force 1 tweeted Sunday that "urban search and rescue teams continue working across the city of Aidyaman," and noted the "amount of devastation is stunning."
The Fairfax County team consists of 79 members and six dogs. A second team comprised of more than 80 members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department's USAR team also made the trip.
VA-TF1 said technical search cameras are allowing first responders to see around obstacles and into void spaces within collapsed structures. Some of the cameras use a tablet to remotely visualize what the camera sees, the task force said.
A spokesperson for VA-TF1 said the work sites are "vast and expansive" and that crews are trying to reach any void spaces underneath the rubble.
The work sites are hazardous and injuries can happen, officials said. The task force's K-9 Xandr is on the mend after he reportedly hurt his paw in the rubble.
"Our K9s don't wear booties because it interferes with their ability to grip and to know where their paws are," a spokesperson said.
The death toll from the 7.8 magnitude and 7.5 magnitude quakes that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria nine hours apart on Feb. 6 rose to 33,179 on Sunday and was certain to keep increasing as search teams locate more bodies in the rubble, according to the Associated Press.
Turkish justice officials targeted more than 130 people allegedly involved in shoddy and illegal construction methods as rescuers extricated more survivors, AP reported.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Those wishing to help in the DMV have left piles of donations for those affected outside the Embassy of Turkey in D.C.
A number of organizations are working to help earthquake victims:
ATADC – American Turkish Association of Washington DC
Interested donors can also contribute to the Zakat Foundation emergency fundraising campaign here by selecting “Turkiye Earthquake.” These donations will be distributed as aid 100% to those in need in the country.
