Ford Team in Turkey Rescues Earthquake Survivors

Ford Otosan's search and rescue team.

TURKEY – When a powerful earthquake struck Van province in eastern Turkey late last month, Ford Otosan’s search and rescue team, FOKE, quickly swung into action.

Arriving in the devastated region, one of the poorest in the country, the team played a significant role in helping to rescue a baby named Azra. It was a rescue that gained international publicity and became a symbol of hope for teams searching through the rubble.

Working alongside other search and rescue teams, FOKE also brought the mother and grandmother of baby Azra back to life.

The team, made up entirely of volunteers, was founded during the 1999 Gölcük earthquake to help employees of Ford Otosan.

The FOKE team, which comprised 15 people including the factory doctor, travelled to Van in two groups after the earthquake struck. The first six team members recovered baby Azra, her mother and her grandmother alive from the wreckage on the first day that they started working with the SAR rescue team, also from Kocaeli.

The FOKE team was well-prepared for the Van rescue operation, having undertaken additional training following the Japan tsunami.