Akar: Over 25,000 Turkish servicemen working in quake zone

Turkish National Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has said that 25,067 personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces are working in the earthquake zone.

Akar, Chief of the General Staff Yashar Guler, Navy Commander Admiral Erkument Tatlioglu and Air Force Commander General Atilla Gulan checked the operation of the "air aid bridge" created by the National Defence Ministry to deliver search and rescue teams and cargo to the earthquake zone, APA reports with reference to Milliyet.

Noting that the servicemen were with the nation from the very beginning and performed their duties exemplary, Akar said: "Collection and distribution points have been set up here. To date, 707 flights have been performed on 63 aircraft... We have assembled 57 general-purpose helicopters in Incirlik. We use these helicopters to serve the earthquake area. At the moment, we have made 710 flights with helicopters... In addition, a maritime aid corridor has been created between Mersin and Iskenderun."