On the 3rd of April, at around 8:00 AM, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake devastated Hualien, Taiwan. Locals were quick to report casualties from the ordeal. The Taipei City Search and Rescue Team, Tainan City Search and Rescue Team, Kaohsiung City Fire Department, Pingtung Special Search Brigade, and the Ministry of National Defense have gathered together and dispatched their personnel and 8 search and rescue dogs. Dog handler Zhou Congji posted the latest photo, showing that Amei and Umar are ready to assist at any time.
Zhou Congji revealed that last year, Amei went to Austria to participate in the “Rescue Dog World Cup Championship” and was led by dog handler Luo Haofang. Although Amei was supposedly on vacation when the earthquake struck, the hard-working dog reported for duty at Hualien to assist in the mission. Locals at the scene in Hualien noticed the canine team dispatched by each department and cheered them on. The personnel reminded the public in the area to pay attention to safety outside their homes and wished is well and safe.
To rescue victims from the disaster area in Hualien, the central and local governments have sent manpower and search and rescue dogs to assist, hoping to find casualties and help survivors in the quickest way possible. In this way, cities in Taiwan damaged by the earthquake may be repaired, and the country can return to its normal life again. The Taipei City Search and Rescue Team has sent 80 people, including 53 search team members, 2 search and rescue dogs, 3 doctors, 2 nurses, 17 special search volunteers, and 1 structural technician. Additionally, they sent rescue equipment, pumps, transport trucks, and other disaster relief vehicles. The Taipei United Hospital DMAT team was also deployed to the area to fully support the Hualien mission.
The first batch of Tainan City’s special search team has assembled and set off for Hualien. There was a total of 15 people, with 3 search and rescue dogs and several disaster relief equipment. The Kaohsiung City Fire Department also sent 64 personnel, including 48 police firefighters, 11 volunteer firefighters, 2 doctors, 1 nurse, 2 civil technicians, and 4 search and rescue dogs. At 11:05 AM, the Pingtung Special Search Mainland sent 47 team members and 1 search and rescue dog who flew to the disaster area on a C130 military aircraft.
All the team members involved in the rescue were advised by their respective departments to be wary of their own safety and hope everyone would be safe.