A 7.8 Magnitude earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria at 01:17UTC on 6^th February leading to a large loss of life and many casualties. Aftershocks continue in the area with another large 7.5 magnitude event happening at 10:24UTC affecting the response. The emergency communications group of TRAC will be involved in the response activities, primarily expected to be on VHF/UHF but they do also use 3.777 and 7.092MHz as needed. Radio Amateurs are requested to give way to any emergency traffic around those frequencies. 

Aziz Sasa TA1E the President of TRAC has stated that Turkey has asked for assistance from the international community and notes that if SAR Groups intend to come for assistance they should contact the Embassies of Turkiye in their countries. He also says that SAR groups should be advised to have at least one Ham Radio operator in their team and/or the facilities to program their radios.

This is a devastating event for the area but please remember that it is easy for ports and airports to be blocked with unrequested supplies so only materials formally requested by the relief agencies should be dispatched and only to named destinations or they are likely to be blocked from import. 

[Image credits to CNN]

Members of the Philippines radio society ( PARA ) are currently responding to the damage and loss of life caused by Typhoon Nalgae which struck their country on Thursday but which is expected to reach a peak this weekend. 

They are requesting that 7095kHz is kept free to allow the passing of emergency traffic. They appreciate that this is a major contest weekend but the assistance of other radio amateurs in keeping the frequency clear would be greatly appreciated.

Carlos CO2JC, IARU Region 2 Emergency Communications Co-ordinator reports that a potential tropical cyclone is entering the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday June 29 and the amateur radio emergency networks of the countries in the area are being activated.

The director of the National Emergency Network of the Venezuelan Radio Club, Domingo Hernández Lima, YV5IZE, has reported that this network is already active on 7.135 MHz and on several VHF repeater systems.

Likewise, Juan de la Cruz Rodríguez Pérez, YN1J, National Emergency Coordinator of the Radio Experimenters Club of Nicaragua, requests that until Tuesday, July 05, at 18:00 UTC, the following frequencies are protected for any emergency traffic:

3.898 MHz (Main) and 3.798 MHz (Alternate).
7.098 MHz (Main) and 7.198 MHz (Alternate)
14.198 MHz (Main)

We thank all Radio Amateurs in the region for protecting these frequencies and monitoring for any help they may need.

At 2107UTC on 22^nd April an earthquake registering 5.7 on the Richter scale struck around 45km South west of the city of Mostar but was felt across a wider area including Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. Sadly the quake is reported to have caused one death and many injuries. 

5 minutes after the earthquake the emergency communications service of ARAuBiH ( RMZO )was activated.
Following their plans, three teams from local radio clubs were mobilised and established a network using existing VHF repeaters and a portable crossband unit. A digital connection was also established between Sarajevo and Zenica E70ARA via Winlink with situation reports being passed in IARU message format.

Because of the risk of aftershocks damaging buildings weakened by the first earthquake, the emergency networks are remaining active until the danger has passed. Along with a number of frequencies and repeaters at VHF/UHF, the following HF frequencies will also be in use. 

3.612MHz LSB Voice
3.612MHz USB Digital
7.125MHz LSB Voice
7.125MHz USB Digital

(Info from Alen E71AR Emcomm Coordinator ARAuBiH RMZO )

The island of São Jorge in the Azores has suffered over 1800 earthquakes over 48 hours causing concerns and prompting the Regional Government of the Azores to prepare contingency plans to protect the islands population. 

Carlos Nora CT1END, Emergency Communications Co-Ordinator for Portugal reports that a group of nine Radio Amateurs in the towns of Velas and Calheta are working to support emergency communications locally through VHF/UHF repeaters but also long range links back to Portugal on;

80M – 3,750.00 MHz. — 3,760.00 MHz. – LSB (Overnight)
40M – 7,100.00 MHz. — 7,110.00 MHz. – LSB (During the day)
20M – 14,300.00 MHz. USB (For outside region)

This external activity being supported by the Azores DX group and the Portuguese national society REP.

Other radio amateurs are encouraged to listen carefully and avoid causing any QRM to emergency operations on the above frequencies. 

This news item will be updated as soon as the situation returns to normal.