Rescuers push forward despite odds

Foreign and local emergency response teams search for survivors buried in 75,000 tonnes of fallen concrete and steel, write Apinya Wipatayotin and Poramet Tangsathaporn

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Susan Redmond looked exhausted after spending hours searching for survivors at the site of the State Audit Office (SAO) building collapse in Chatuchak district yesterday.

By her side was Sahara, a 4-year-old golden retriever rescue dog.

Ms Redmond is a member of the International Rescue Dog Association, and Sahara is one of 11 rescue dogs registered under the association that were deployed to locate survivors and bodies trapped under the rubble. The team responded to a magnitude earthquake on March 28.

Camping in Chatuchak Market, directly across from the collapsed building, Ms Redmond has been stationed at the site since Friday, handling three rescue dogs: Sahara, Lily and Safari, which are highly trained for search and rescue missions.

Their abilities are certified by the International Search and Rescue Dog Organization (IRO), qualifying them for international rescue operations, including the major earthquake in Turkey in 2023.

Ms Redmond said the hazardous environment, filled with debris, broken glass and extreme heat, poses challenges for the rescue dogs.

Each dog works in pairs and must rest every 20 minutes to prevent exhaustion. They are trained to detect both injured individuals or deceased victims. Once they identify a potential survivor or body, they signal to their handlers.