Rescuers Hand In USD 150,000 Found In Rubble

Police in Turkey have been given USD 150,000 in cash found by rescuers in the earthquake rubble as they searched for survivors.

Photo shows dollar bills, undated. Russian search and rescue teams reportedly found USD 150,000 under rubble and handed the money over to the local police. (@mchs_official/Newsflash)

This is according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, from whom Newsflash obtained a statement on Tuesday, 14th February.

The Russian officials announced on 14th February that the rescuers had discovered the stash of banknotes in a pot and handed them in to the police.

They did not say, however, where or when the cash was found.

A photo obtained from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations shows stacks of American USD 100 bills as well as what appear to be some EUR 200 notes on a table.

A second photo shows a group of rescuers with Russian insignia but there is no sign of the cash.

The Russian ministry’s statement said: “Russian rescuers in the course of search and rescue operations while clearing the rubble in a residential building in Turkey found a large amount of money.

“When opening another layer of rubble after the devastating earthquake, employees of the Russian Emergencies Ministry found a pot filled with one hundred dollar bills.

“USD 150,000 [GBP 123,915] for the inventory were transferred to the local police.”

In a separate statement, the ministry announced it is pulling out of the rescue operation in Turkey.

It said: “The EMERCOM of Russia held an operational conference call, during which the results of the work of Russian rescuers in the earthquake-affected areas of Turkey and Syria were discussed.

“The total grouping was more than 200 people – including psychologists and canine units. Under the general coordination of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, joint work with rescuers from the Kyrgyz and Belarusian Republics was carried out – more than 130 people.”

Russia’s Minister of Emergency Situations Alexander Kurenkov, said: “Russia was one of the first countries to come to the aid of the affected population.

“Our rescuers began to search for survivors in the most difficult areas. Heavy machinery has been brought in to remove the rubble.

“The search and rescue operation is now over. In this regard, the President made a decision to withdraw the group.”

The statement added: “The airmobile hospital provided medical assistance to 900 victims, including 240 children.

“Psychologists of the department helped in more than 130 cases.

Photo shows Russian search and rescue teams, undated. Russian search and rescue teams reportedly found USD 150,000 under rubble and handed the money over to the local police. (@mchs_official/Newsflash)

“In Turkey, about 740 cubic metres of rubble were removed by hand and with the involvement of heavy equipment – 8,400 cubic metres.

“In Syria, 5,600 cubic metres of construction debris was removed, and canine units examined 750 square metres of rubble.

“An IL-76 [aircraft] of the Russian Emergencies Ministry delivered 70 tonnes of humanitarian cargo to Syria and 36 tonnes to Turkey.

“The minister thanked the personnel for their dedication and instructed to prepare airmobile groups for departure to their permanent deployment points.”

The statement was also reported in Turkish media.

Turkey’s disaster management agency (AFAD) has said that 35,418 people are dead and over 80,000 injured in the country. Over 5,814 people have reportedly died in Syria.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck early on the morning of Monday, 6th February, in southern Turkey, devastating the south of the country and northern Syria.

A second earthquake of 7.6 magnitude hit the same region again at 11:24am local time on 6th February, causing even more damage.