Cláudio Marujo and André Cabrita still have “that war scene” in mind. Elbistan, in southeastern Turkey, is now a city reduced to rubble. It was there that these two Algarve firefighters, who are part of the Albufeira corporation, were looking for buried people who were still alive. After four days of hard work, they couldn't find anyone, but the feeling of "mission accomplished" will always speak louder.
Cláudio and André were the first Portuguese to go to Turkey, as part of humanitarian aid after the major earthquakes, and returned this Saturday, February 11th, to Albufeira.
In their luggage, they bring images that they will never forget.
«We found a scenario as if it were a war: destroyed buildings, people wandering in the street, with only bags, with nowhere to go», describes André Cabrita, in an interview with Sul Informação.
At his side, Cláudio Marujo adds: «television cannot transmit even a quarter of what is happening there – only by being present, seeing with our own eyes, is that we understand the dimension of the tragedy».
In their company, the two firefighters, who are trained in the Arcón method, of detecting people buried alive, with the help of dogs, took Ax, a two-year-old Belgian Shepherd.
The three were incorporated into a special canine rescue group, together with Spanish operatives. The costs of going to Turkey were all paid by the Humanitarian Association of Albufeira Firefighters.
The routine they led, in these «very hard» days, is explained by André Cabrita.
«We woke up at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, we waited for the organization of AFAD (Turkey's Disaster Management Authority) which had a list of buildings where there could be people and we were going to do this pinpointing, throughout the day, often with negative temperatures», he describes.
In total, the pair of firefighters from Albufeira searched the rubble of 15 buildings, but, unfortunately, always without success. In Antakya, a Portuguese team managed, last Saturday, to remove a 10-year-old boy alive from the rubble of a building.
«Our mission is always to save people, but we were aware that we were going to a place where the destruction was massive», confesses André Cabrita.
Despite not being able to save anyone, the two firefighters came from Turkey with the feeling "of mission accomplished".
«We didn't detect anyone, but we also ensured that the machines didn't enter the rubble with anyone alive and that was an important help», says Cláudio Marujo.
In Turkey, despite the “extreme” humanitarian situations, firefighters also saw “a lot of unity”.
«There, there was no kind of selfishness. People have always wanted to collaborate with us. Every time we emerged from the rubble, even without meeting anyone, there were people who came to hug and thank us. These are images that will stay with us forever», recalls the firefighter.
Back in Portugal, André and Cláudio guarantee that they are willing to help again – whether in this or in other catastrophic situations.
«We were even asked to stay longer, but, logistically, we weren't ready to stay longer. Now, if they call us, we are willing to help again, of course. This was a learning experience, even for us».
Comments