CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Wang Wenqi, a student majored in Turkish at Sichuan Foreign Studies University (SISU), returned to Istanbul University, where he was studying, on February 19, after seven days of aid in Adlyaman, the worst part of the Turkish earthquake.

The rescue scene in the disaster area with the Chinese Blue Sky Rescue Team flashes in Wang Wenqi's mind when he closed eyes. In the past few days, he has been the "mouth and ear" of the Chinese Blue Sky Rescue Team members, who tired his best to reach out to the people in need of help.

Register as a interpreter

"It is my greatest responsibility to ensure smooth communication between the Chinese rescue team and other rescue forces"

Wang Wenqi is a junior this year. In September 2022, he went to the Language Center of Istanbul University in cooperation with Sichuan International Studies University to study Turkish. Four days before the earthquake, he had just passed the Turkish C1 test and had a two-week holiday.

"Istanbul is far from the epicenter location, so it's not much affected. After the earthquake, everyone is very concerned about the local situation, and wants to do something for the disaster area." So is Wang Wenqi.

One day, in a Chinese students group in Istanbul, Wang Wenqi saw that the Chinese non-governmental rescue forces in the disaster area had a need for Chinese-Turkish interpreter, and he immediately registered. The next day, he arrived at Istanbul airport with the Chinese Blue Sky Rescue Team to Turkey on a mission, and flied to the disaster area to rescue.

As an interpreter with the rescue team, Wang first followed the rescue team to the Malatya, eastern province of Turkey, where he was sent to the more devastated Adlyaman two days later.

In fact, before the team set out, the work of interpretation has started: Wang Wenqi needs to coordinate with the Turkish administration in advance, understand the operation location and information, and ask the administration to send a vehicle to take the rescue team to the rescue site. At the work site, it is necessary to assist the rescue team to communicate with local residents, military police and other rescue forces.

“For example, when using sound detection equipment, I would ask people around me to keep quiet.” Wang Wenqi said that in the rescue site, the role of communication appears to be particularly important. When the local rescue force is required to cooperate, he would be asked to convey the ideas of the Chinese rescue team, such as asking the excavator master to work according to the angle and method required by the rescue team, or what materials are needed or what the local people need to do.

"My greatest responsibility is to make sure the communication between the Chinese rescue team and other rescue forces be smooth," said Wang Wenqi.

Experience the rescue site

"You've been working hard, you're here to help us, and you need a good rest."

"This is the first time I'm so close to the earthquake, and I truly feel that life is respected and trusted." There were thoughts and feelings for Wang Wenqi in a few days.

In a dangerous building in Adlyaman, local people told the rescue team that there were survivors in the building. But after repeated confirmation, the rescue team found only one unfortunate boy, whose body was pressed by the railing of the stairs.

However, the Blue Sky Rescue Team cooperated with the local rescue forces to support and stabilize the building, risked their lives to enter the dangerous building several times, cut off the railing on the boy's body, and finally carried out the boy's body.

"I was particularly touched at that moment, in that it was the greatest respect for life." Wang Wenqi seems a bit sad.

Before going to the disaster area, Wang Wenqi also had some worries: will eating and drinking be a problem when arrived at the disaster area? But after arriving, these concerns are all gone.

On their way to the work place, rescue team members only took equipment to lighten their weight, but when they returned to the camp, they found their bags full of snacks and drinks. The local people would nod to express appreciation when they saw them and kindly offered drinking water and food to satisfy their hunger.

What impressed Wang Wenqi particularly is that, by the cold weather at night, people in the disaster area sometimes warmed themselves by the fire, and when they saw the rescue team, they immediately gave up the position close to the fire. "You've been working hard, you're here to help us, and you need a good rest," a gray-haired grandmother took Wang Wenqi's hand and said. (Translated by Zhang Kang, Fathom Language Limited)