S.Korean firms offer aid to earthquake-stricken Turkey

South Korean companies are joining the international effort to aid Turkey in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.

Doosan Group announced on Wednesday its commitment to support relief and restoration efforts in Turkey following the catastrophic earthquake. The company will provide Doosan Bobcat construction equipment worth $1 million to assist with the cleanup efforts.

The equipment includes skid loaders and excavators for debris removal and transportation, as well as mobile generators and lighting equipment for areas with limited power supply. Doosan plans to quickly deliver the equipment through a local dealer.

"We hope this equipment will make a direct impact on the disaster site and aid in relief activities, as well as be used for future damage recovery," a Doosan official stated.

Hyundai Motor Co.'s Turkish subsidiary is providing $500,000 worth of rescue equipment and relief supplies to the affected region. The company plans to donate $50,000 for rescue operations and $450,000 for supplies in collaboration with the Turkey Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.

HD Hyundai Group will supply 10 medium-sized excavators for restoration work and urgently transport them through local dealers to the areas in need in coordination with the local government, which are produced by Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. and Hyundai Doosan Infracore Co.

Korean companies have a history of supporting disaster-stricken areas, having previously provided construction equipment and donations in the aftermath of natural disasters such as the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in the US, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 East Japan earthquake, the 2013 Philippine typhoon, the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and the 2018 Indonesian earthquake.

Write to Jae-Fu Kim at hu@hankyung.com