Turkey's Earthquake, Drone King Baykar Assists Flight Missions, Shelters to Food Banks

The impact of the earthquake in Turkey. (Twitter/@UNReliefChief)

JAKARTA - Turkish drone king Baykar deployed Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı unmanned aerial vehicles (UCVs) to carry out humanitarian flight missions in a number of areas of Turkey affected by the earthquake, with a total flight time of 1,596 hours and 36 minutes.

The 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquake centered on Pazarcık and Elbistan, Kahramanmaraş, has affected 10 nearby provinces and killed at least 38,044 people, according to official figures.

"Since the first day of the earthquake, 9 Bayraktar #AKINCI and 38 #BayraktarTB2 have conducted mission flights a total of 1,596 hours 36 minutes in the disaster area. Our national UAV is currently continuing its mission flights in the region. We are there for our country, we support our country, " read a company statement on Twitter, as quoted February 17.

Drones have been instrumental in providing updates and ongoing data to crisis response teams for damage detection, search and rescue support, along with coordinating activities.

In addition, three Bayraktar TB2 UAVs equipped with the Baykar Rapid Mapping Pod, have started capturing high-resolution aerial images for damage assessment in the affected areas.

Furthermore, Baykar has also provided financial support and humanitarian assistance since the first day of the earthquake.

The amount of financial support that companies contributed to the region reached 2 billion Turkish lira from February 6 to 15, apart from their humanitarian aid support.

In addition, the company has set up food banks in three different places, two in Hatay and one in Kahramanmaraş, which will provide food to a total of 13,500 people a day, as quoted Daily Sabah.

Baykar also initiated a support program to build container houses for earthquake victims.

Selçuk Bayraktar, chief technology officer (CTO) of Baykar has previously announced, in collaboration with the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), his company will donate 1,000 houses to provide permanent housing for those in need.

"The company also launched Baykar Container City, which will provide safe and comfortable homes for 2.000 people in the region, as part of efforts to better support the critical need for shelter amid freezing temperatures," said Selçuk Bayraktar.

Afetin yaşandığı ilk günden itibaren 9 Bayraktar #AKINCI ve 38 #BayraktarTB2 afet bölgesinde toplam 1.596 saat 36 dakika görev uçuşu icra etti.

Hâlihazırda bölgede görev uçuşları devam ediyor.

Milletimiz için varız, Milletimizin yanındayız. pic.twitter.com/URDyTVhIlc

— BAYKAR (@BaykarTech) February 17, 2023