STORY: One year on, Turks praise Chinese earthquake rescuers' heroic efforts
SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage/ Feb. 5, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 7, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:11
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of quake-affected zones in Hatay, Türkiye (02.2023)
2. Chinese search and rescue teams conduct search and rescue operations in the earthquake zone in Hatay, Türkiye (02.2023)
3. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan awards Chinese search and rescue team with the Outstanding Sacrifice Medal in Ankara, Türkiye (25.04.2023)
4. Chinese search and rescue team applauded by locals as they walk through the Grand Bazaar for their help in the earthquake zone in Istanbul, Türkiye (02.2023)
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): TUNCAY TAYMAZ, Professor of seismology and geophysics at Istanbul Technical University
6. various of Tuncay Taymaz
7. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): TUNCAY TAYMAZ, Professor of seismology and geophysics at Istanbul Technical University

STORYLINE:

A year ago, Türkiye suffered the worst disaster in its modern history when twin earthquakes rocked its southern region, killing more than 53,000 people.
   
As the country commemorates the tragedy, many Turks still remember the heroic work of the Chinese search and rescue teams that came to their aid.
   
The Chinese teams, comprising 82 members of the China Search and Rescue Team, volunteers from the Blue Sky Rescue Team, and other civil relief squads, worked tirelessly to save lives under the rubble.
   
Their valiant efforts earned them the respect and gratitude of the Turkish people and government, who awarded them a state medal for their outstanding sacrifice.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): TUNCAY TAYMAZ, Professor of seismology and geophysics at Istanbul Technical University
"We have all watched together the heroic work they (Chinese rescuers) have done."

Tuncay Taymaz spent nearly three months in the earthquake zone conducting research and analysis and had the chance to observe their operations.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): TUNCAY TAYMAZ, Professor of seismology and geophysics at Istanbul Technical University
"We have a lot to learn from China, especially about earthquake seismology, mitigation of earthquake damages, creating earthquake-resistant cities, conducting search and rescue missions, and equipment use in the field."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, China.
(XHTV)