Portugal sends rescue mission to Turkey

Portugal is sending a contingency of 53 people including firefighters, civil protection officials, medical emergency teams and a specialized military emergency unit as well as six dogs to help search and rescue operations in Turkey.

The mission falls under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.They will join rescue teams that search for signs of life in the rubble in Turkey as well as in Syria. Teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency personnel in the effort but the scale of destruction from the quake and its powerful aftershocks was so immense and spread over such a wide area that many people were still awaiting help.

Experts said the survival window for those trapped under the rubble or otherwise unable to obtain basic necessities was closing rapidly. Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan made the comment Tuesday as hope dwindled that more survivors would emerge from the rubble of thousands of toppled buildings.