IDF slated to set up military hospital in southeast Turkey this evening

An Israeli military field hospital that will treat victims of the earthquake in Turkey is expected to be established tonight, officials say.

A short while ago, two Israeli Air Force heavy transport planes carrying the field hospital equipment and officials took off for the affected areas in southeastern Turkey, after a preliminary team arrived early this morning to scout out the area.

Speaking to reporters, the head of the aid delegation, Col. (Res.) Golan Vach, says the Israeli teams have been the most successful so far, with four successful rescues and another two currently being worked on.

“The Israeli delegation is the largest with the exception of Azerbaijan, which sent 400 people. I believe that by tonight we will reach over 420 people,” Vach says.

“We have conducted the highest number of rescues so far. I think that the State [of Israel] and the Home Front Command know how to carry out such tasks in a short time. The speed with which we reached the scene is what brought us to these results and I hope we will achieve more results soon,” he adds.

Vach says such IDF aid delegations usually last between nine and 14 days, and in this case, the team is ready to remain in Turkey that long.