In the wake of last week’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake that devastated parts of Myanmar and Thailand, two rescue dogs have become symbols of both hope and comfort for victims and their families.
Beyond their role in search and rescue, the dogs provide much-needed emotional support. Wearing bright orange vests, they roam a temporary shelter for victims’ families, wagging their tails and inviting children to pet and cuddle them.
Migrant workers from Myanmar pet Tualek, a dog of the K9 USAR Thailand, as search and rescue operations continue, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 1, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
Search-and-rescue experts have emphasized that dogs serve a dual purpose, aiding in locating survivors while also offering psychological relief to those affected.
“A dog has amazing powers, and touching a dog really provides some relief for people—it’s an important source of emotional support,” a senior K9 handler told Reuters.
Alongside these highly trained dogs, search teams are employing thermal imaging tools, scanners, and rescue robots to detect and retrieve bodies trapped under the wreckage.
A police officer walks with a dog near a building that collapsed after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, earthquake monitoring services said, which affected Bangkok as well with people pouring out of buildings in the Thai capital in panic after the tremors, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 28, 2025. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
The golden retrievers spent nearly 100 hours over five days searching through the rubble in Bangkok, sniffing for signs of life. While some survivors have been pulled from the debris, 72 people remain missing, and their families are increasingly losing hope of being reunited with their loved ones.
One resident, whose mother and sister are still missing, told Reuters that the dogs’ presence offered a small but meaningful source of comfort during an unbearable time.
A K-9 dog of the Thailand Rescue Dog Association is assisted during a search operation, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
Investigating Structural Failures
Since the March 28 earthquake, both Bangkok and Mandalay have struggled to care for the injured amid a severe shortage of healthcare resources and infrastructure.
As search operations continue, experts are also investigating construction failures that may have contributed to building collapses. One notable case involves a 30-story building in Bangkok, which was found to have been constructed with substandard steel. While further analysis is needed to determine the exact impact of these deficiencies, the government has launched a formal investigation into the collapse.
