Late last year, news of a landslide that occurred in the Batang Kali region of Pahang sent shockwaves across the nation. The tragedy saw as many as 92 holidaymakers trapped underneath debris, leaving 31 people dead.
However with the tireless efforts of emergency personnel who responded to the scene, among which also included a team of dedicated K9 tracker dogs, 61 survivors were successfully rescued from the rubble.
Batang Kali K9 superheroes to join Search and Rescue operations in Turkey
And now, two of these canine superheroes will soon be sent off on another crucial mission to assist international search and rescue efforts in Turkey, after a series of earthquakes had struck the region on February 6th, 2023.
As reported by national news agency BERNAMA, tracker dogs Denti and Frankie will form part of the second batch of rescue personnel from the Malaysian contingent to be deployed to the scene. They are joined by 30 members of the Civil Defense Force (APM), 30 members of the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and 20 members of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART).
Speaking to members of the media, JBPM Tactical Operations Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) chief commander Ismail Abd Ghani said that the dogs are being brought over to identify the locations of victims and maximise rescue efforts there. The dogs have been trained to locate both live and deceased victims.
“The dogs are part of SMART, so they are ready to be deployed anywhere abroad,” he said.
As for whether the dogs will be able to endure the lengthy 11-hour flight to Turkey, Ismail reassured reporters that both Denti and Frankie have been properly assessed for their ability to travel by air prior to their procurement into the team. For this mission, they will be handled by firemen Tony Anak Albert Mani and Y.Thibagaran.
First rescue team from Malaysia has arrived on the scene
Malaysia’s first rescue team was dispatched to Turkey on Monday, which consisted of 70 SMART personnel. They have since arrived in the Gaziantep region, where they faced challenges with extreme weather, logistical and transportation coordination issues, and problems concerning geopolitical security. However, many of the problems have been addressed with assistance from the Turkyie Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also pledged a donation of over RM8.6 million (US$2 million) to both Turkey and Syria in the wake of the disaster. As of writing, the combined death toll from both countries as a result of the earthquakes have risen above the 15,000 mark.
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