「余震に細心の注意」　日本政府が派遣したトルコ地震救助チームが帰国

　トルコ南部を震源とする大地震を受け、日本政府が派遣した国際緊急援助隊・救助チームが１５日夜、被災地での活動を終え、羽田空港に帰国した。山本英昭団長は記者団の取材に「気温が氷点下まで下がり、度重なる余震に細心の注意を払いながらの救助活動だったが、現地でトルコ人にも支えられながら任務ができた」と振り返った。
　チームは警察庁や消防庁、海上保安庁の職員ら計７４人で構成。地震発生直後の６日夜に出国し、７～１４日に現地で被災者の捜索や救助活動に当たった。
　空港には日本在住のトルコ人２０人ほどが駆け付け、「日本とトルコの絆」「ありがとう」と書かれた紙や花を持って、団員に感謝の言葉を贈った。空港で行われた解団式で、コルクット・ギュンゲン駐日トルコ大使は「いち早く被災地に赴き、心強い支援だった。多くのトルコ国民の心に刻まれただろう」と述べた。（2023/02/15-23:17）

A team of Japanese police officers and firefighters returned home Wednesday after a week of search and rescue operations in Turkey, which was hit by massive earthquakes last week.
   "We were able to complete our mission with the help of the people of Turkey," Hideaki Yamamoto, head of the emergency rescue team, told reporters at Tokyo's Haneda airport.
   The 74-member team from the National Police Agency, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and the Japan Coast Guard left for Turkey on the evening of Feb. 6 shortly after the quakes and engaged in search and rescue operations there from Feb. 7 to Tuesday.
   The team was welcomed at the airport by about 20 Turkish residents in Japan, who were holding flowers and signs thanking them for their work.
   Turkish Ambassador to Japan Korkut Gungen said that the team gave his country reassuring support by coming to the rescue immediately after the quakes. Their efforts have been engraved in the hearts of many Turkish citizens, he said.