Prof. Tan Yen Joe will share with us the causes of the Turkey–Syria earthquake and its geological characteristics. He will discuss earthquake hazards and risks in recent years, and geoscientists’ efforts to understand earthquake occurrences through scientific investigation, and how improved understanding helps countries manage earthquake risks.

Prof. Tan is an Assistant Professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Programme at CUHK. His research expertise includes earthquake and volcanic activities, specializing in the use of geophysical means to observe deep sea volcanic activities. His recent research covers earthquake and eruption models of deep sea volcanoes, and the application of geophysical data in the understanding of earthquake dynamics.

Mr Chak Kwok Wai will introduce the coordination and the work of the UN International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG). He will also explain how the Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) responds to local and/or overseas large-scale emergency.

Mr Chak is a Divisional Officer of HKFSD. Having received training in Australia on urban search and rescue, he took part in the search and rescue operation in the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, and later helped to establish the Urban Search and Rescue Team (USART) in the HKFSD in 2009. Mr Chak will share with us the training of USART, and their work in the recent Turkey-Syria earthquake.

Ms Elaine Fong and Ms Lalita Gurung will introduce the humanitarian efforts of the Hong Kong Red Cross, with a focus on the relief and coordination work of the Hong Kong Red Cross in response to the Turkey-Syria earthquake. They will also share of their experience working in the disaster area in Turkey.

Ms Elaine Fong is the Acting Senior Programme Coordinator for Emergency Health of the International and Relief Service Department of the Hong Kong Red Cross. Her work covers emergency medicine, public health incidences, and training for overseas medical services. She has coordinated various relief work such as the Philippine typhoon, Ebola outbreak, Nepal earthquake, and Mozambique cyclone, and participated in person front-line rescue and coordination work in areas including Bangladesh, China and Turkey.

Ms Lalita Gurung is currently the Programme Coordinator for Emergency Response and Preparedness of the International and Relief Service Department in the Hong Kong Red Cross. She works on overseas emergency relief and disaster preparedness projects. Lalita has been involved in humanitarian work for over 15 years and has participated in multiple relief and post-disaster recovery projects, including the Indian Ocean tsunami, Haiti earthquake, Nepal earthquake, and Ecuador earthquake. Major recent projects include the South Asian floods and droughts and the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.