UK ISAR Dogs in the 2023 Türkiye-Syria Earthquake Response – Presented by Lyndsay Sielski

On 6 February 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes struck Türkiye and Syria, claiming over 55,000 lives. The disaster affected an estimated 8.8 million people, with at least 230,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. In response, the UK International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) team was deployed on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Within 48 hours, a team of 76 personnel -including search and rescue specialists from 14 fire and rescue services, medics, engineers, and vets -arrived in Gaziantep to support life-saving operations.

Among them were four highly trained urban search and rescue dogs, playing a critical tasking to locating survivors trapped beneath the rubble. These dogs worked tirelessly, detecting live human scent, and assisting rescue teams in clearing search areas. Their efforts highlighted the invaluable contribution of canine teams in disaster response.

In this presentation, Lindsay Sielski BEM will provide a firsthand account of the team’s mission, the challenges faced in such an extreme environment, and the emotional toll of working amidst devastation. She will also reflect on the resilience and generosity of the Turkish people, whose humanity left a lasting impact even in the darkest of times.

Coming soon.