KOTA KINBALU, Feb 9 — Malaysia will send a team of 106 medical officers and personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces for the field hospital mission to the earthquake-stricken Turkey.

Defence Minister Datuk Mohamed Hasan said the team is expected to depart from Subang airport at 2am tomorrow using two Airbus A400 military planes.

“The two aircraft will be carrying a 44-tonne load, which includes medical and all other self-sufficiency supplies for six weeks that the team is expected to be in Turkey,” said the minister commonly called Tok Mat.

For the team of 106, Mindef was deploying 31 medical officers and 14 specialists.

They are expected to stay in Turkey for some six weeks to assist in search-and-rescue efforts, medical treatment and other emergency services needed by the victims of the earthquake.

“They will be flying tonight pending diplomatic clearance as we are unsure which part of Turkey we will be flying into. The disaster zone is very wide, so, we will wait for their advice,” he said.

Mohammed, who is on a trip to Sabah to inspect the state’s military infrastructure, said the team will bring supplies both to treat the victims as well as to look after themselves for the entire six weeks period so as not to burden the host country.

“We are bringing our own supplies as if we are packing up to go to war. We have to be able to be safe and have adequate supplies. In the event of an earthquake, there are always aftershocks so we have to be safe,” he said.

He also said that the county will deploy the second Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) team soon.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Defence Ministry would assemble a team of military doctors and paramedics who will set up a field hospital that can be completed in 48-hours.

Turkey was struck by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake on Monday, causing mass destruction and damages and also claimed the lives of at least 8,000 people so far. A second 7.6-magnitude tremor followed less than 12 hours later. - malaymail