AKUT Search and Rescue Association ( tr, AKUT Arama Kurtarma Derneği) is a Turkish
non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...
for disaster
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
relief. It was established in 1995 as a grassroots organization by seven leading outdoor athletes of Turkey and officially founded as an association in 1996.
The organization delivers emergency and disaster relief to people trapped in caves, lost on mountains or to victims of
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...
or
flood
A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...
disasters at home and abroad. The initial purpose of the association's establishment was to provide search and rescue relief for climbers in emergency as no local organization of this type existed so far.
History
The group was formed first in the aftermath of a mountaineering accident occurred in 1994 on
Bolkar Mountains
Bolkar Mountains, also known as Bulgar Dagh or Bolghar Dagh, are a mountain range situated in the middle part of the Taurus mountains complex in southern Turkey bounded by the Göksu River to the west and the Pozantı River to the east. The no ...
, at which two local climbers were involved. In December 1995, a group of volunteer mountaineers conducted their first organized mission on
Mt. Uludağ, and rescued people, who got lost in the fog, freezing in heavy snowfall. It was during this operation that the group named itself "AKUT", which is a concept in medicine terminology.
The organization was officially incorporated in the beginning of 1996. The members received earthquake and flood training within the next year. This qualified the organization to work cooperative alongside official agencies during their efforts of natural disaster relief. On January 15, 1999, AKUT was given the status of a
charitable organization
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definitio ...
by the Turkish government.
AKUT became generally known after it quickly reacted to the
1999 İzmit earthquake
On the 17th of August, 1999 at 3:01 AM local time, a catastrophic magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Kocaeli Province of Turkey, causing monumental damage and 17,127–18,373 deaths. Named for the quakes proximity to the northeastern city of Izm ...
, and worked with its 150 permanent members and coordinated over 1,000 helpers, who rescued about 200 people from the debris.
In 1999, the organization became a member of
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
'
Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG). AKUT was officially recognized in 2011 as a "mid-sized search and rescue team" by INSARAG.
AKUT undertook international missions following the
1999 Athens earthquake
The 1999 Athens earthquake occurred on September 7 at near Mount Parnitha in Greece with a moment magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (''Violent''). The proximity to the Athens metropolitan area resulted in widespread stru ...
in
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, the
1999 Taiwan earthquake, the
2001 Gujarat earthquake
The 2001 Gujarat earthquake, also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January, India's 52nd Republic Day, at . The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat ...
in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
and the
2003 Bam earthquake
The 2003 Bam earthquake struck the Kerman province of southeastern Iran at 01:56 UTC (5:26 am Iran Standard Time) on December 26. The shock had a moment magnitude of 6.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (''Violent''). The earth ...
in
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
.
AKUT responded immediately to the
massive earthquakes of Feb 6, 2023, sending 30 teams to Kahramanmaraş, Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Malatya, Hatay, Osmaniye and Adan
Organization
![AKUT 2011 Van-1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/AKUT_2011_Van-1.jpg)
As of 2015, the organization counts about 250 core members and is also able to deploy around one thousand volunteers if needed. It has appropriate technical equipment for its operations. The headquarters in Istanbul coordinates 35 teams formed in various cities across the country and organize also specific training courses related to search and rescue, disaster preparedness and response for the members and the volunteers. The number of people rescued by AKUT totaled 2062 as of June 2015.
References
External links
Official webpageOfficial webpage of Ankara Team rev. 6. Nov. 2011
INSARAG USAR Directoryrev. 6. Nov. 2011
rev. 6. Nov. 2011 (in German)
Other References
Today’s Zaman, September 2, 2012
Disaster training center to be established in Erzurum Hürriyet Daily News, August 27, 2012
AKUT (Search and Rescue Association) Rescues the Polish Couple Sun Express News, July 16, 2012
Two missing Britons found in Turkish Riviera Hürriyet Daily News, July 13, 2012
“Earthquake-Simulator Truck” will be in Fethiye on April 23. Sun Express News, April 16, 2012
AKUT provides fast response in 'Slow City' of Seferihisar Hürriyet Daily News, April 4, 2011
Voluntary Service In Twenty-Six Locations AnadoluJet Magazine, April 2011
Turkey sends aid team to quake-hit Japan Hürriyet Daily News, March 12, 2011
You’ve Got To Do What You Love, Or Love What You Do AnadoluJet Magazine, December 2010
Today’s Zaman, August 4, 2010
Turkish NGO creates fake quakes to advocate readiness Hürriyet Daily News, May 26, 2010
Turkish team rescues another Haiti quake survivor Hürriyet Daily News, January 22, 2010
More Turkish rescue teams arrive in Haiti Hürriyet Daily News, January 19, 2010
Today’s Zaman, January 20, 2010
A helping hand that reached under the ruble Hürriyet Daily News, August 19, 2009
The Telegraph,August 14, 2009
Chinese documentary makers climb Mount Ararat Hürriyet Daily News, March 9, 2007
Rescue teams back, Turkish business community takes charge to help Pakistan Hürriyet Daily News, October 17, 2005
Today’s Zaman, October 17, 2005
The New York Times,October 10, 2005
Latest death toll from collapsed building reaches 92 Hürriyet Daily News, February 11, 2004
Rescue dispute grows Hürriyet Daily News, September 2, 2004
Today’s Zaman, August 17, 2004
Turkish search and rescue team returns from Iran Hürriyet Daily News, December 31, 2003
Today’s Zaman, May 5, 2003
AKUT's rescue effort in Greece stirs hearts Hürriyet Daily News, September 10, 1999
Turkey rescuers recall 921 earthquake mission in Taiwan Focus Taiwan News Channel,September 23, 2012
AKUT Returns to Pakistan, Social Accountability International (SAI), November 2012
AKUT President Nasuh Mahruki, Gives a Seminar to AGU’s Staff about TeamworkAbdullah Gul University News
Sabancı University Civic Involvement Projects
INSARAG - USAR Directory,AKUT Team United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
EverestNews
{{Commons category, AKUT Search and Rescue Association
Charities based in Turkey
Mountain rescue agencies
Organizations established in 1996
Organizations based in Istanbul
Şişli
Volunteer search and rescue organizations
1996 establishments in Turkey
Emergency services in Turkey