As the Thai rescue team has completed its mission of conducting rescue operations in Myanmar, a ceremony to honour the Thai emergency rescue team took place at Zabuthiri Hall in Nay Pyi Taw Council Office yesterday morning, attended by Chairman of National Disaster Management Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.

They observe a minute of silence showing deepest sympathy and collective sorrow in remembrance of the lives lost and the damages caused by the severe earthquake.

At the ceremony, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win spoke words of appreciation for the emergency rescue team of Thailand.

In his speech, the Vice-Senior General revealed that due to the earthquake, significant damage occurred in Mandalay, Sagaing, and Nay Pyi Taw. As of the present time, the records indicate that 3,455 people have died, 4,840 have been injured, and 214 are still missing.

He continued that the Thai search and rescue team comprising 55 members, five officials from the Thai Embassy and totalling 60 led by a Maj-Gen from the Office of the Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces along with 4.99 kilogrammes of supporting equipment arrived at Nay Pyi Taw International Airport within 36 hours after the earthquake. Moreover, two planes carrying 4,372 kilogrammes of foods and general materials arrived in Myanmar on 30 March, two more planes bringing foods and general materials weighing 22,400 kilogrammes on 1 April and 4,700 kilogrammes of foods and general materials on 3 April, totalling 36,462 kilogrammes of foods and general materials. Among 26 countries which provide aid to Myanmar, Thailand is a good neighbour which provided emergency aid for Myanmar within 36 hours after the incident. So, Myanmar was proud of the efforts of Thailand in the special record. The Vice-Senior General expressed his thanks to the Thai rescue team for rescuing the individuals trapped under the dangerous buildings with the use of modern machinery from 3 pm on 30 March to 4 am on 31 March in Nay Pyi Taw.

Moreover, he emphasized the Thai Maj-Gen and party comforted patients at Zabuthiri General Hospital and tried hard to conduct rescue operations at the collapsed buildings on 31 March. On the same day, they provided healthcare to 36 staff and families at buildings No 2386 and 2387. Their mobile clinic also gave treatment to 175 people at the Dhammayon in Yanaung Ward 1 of Pyinmana on 1 April and in Ward 6 of Lewe on 2 April. Moreover, they donated foods and cash to Paukmyaing Monastery and Jamay Mosque in Lewe and Buddha Rekkhita Monastery in Ward 3.

The Vice-Senior General recounted that they also provided food for families of Daw Nyo who died from Ward 6 of Lewe, healthcare to 84 villagers from Myaukmyaik Village in Tatkon Township, medical treatment to 156 people in Kyitaung Village and food to Muntegwin and Sibinthaya villages.

While rescue operations are being carried out in Myanmar at this time, he revealed that it is also reported that in Thailand, at 1:25 pm on 28 March, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck, causing the collapse of a construction site at the township audit office in the Bang Sue Township of Bangkok. In this incident, 11 workers have died, nine have been injured, and about 76 are still missing. Rescue operations are ongoing. The building collapse has also been reported as a shocking and alarming incident online.

He noted that although such events are occurring within Thailand at this time, Myanmar is deeply grateful for the assistance and rescue efforts of Thailand with compassion by the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida, Prime Minister of Thailand Mrs Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Mr Maris Sangiampongsa, Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Gen Songwit Noonpackdee, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army Gen Pana Klaewblaudtuk, and Thai Ambassador to Myanmar Mongkol Visitstump. In particular, Myanmar extends special gratitude to the Thai government delegation, led by Prime Minister Mrs Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who sent emergency rescue assistance to Myanmar. Myanmar also wishes to express additional thanks to the Chief of Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army for their invaluable support.

Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung presented the commemorative medal to a representative of the Thai rescue team. Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Soe Win also gave commemorative gifts to the Thai rescue team.

Next, the Vice-Senior General served the Thai rescuers with food and cordially greeted them.

Search and Rescue Operations Standards (Assessment, Search & Rescue Level – ASR Level) comprises assessing the condition, location, and the potential for further hazards in the affected area (Wide Area Assessment), determining whether additional risks may occur at the level 1, measuring the information obtained from the Wide Area Assessment, identifying and assigning areas for search and rescue operations while ensuring safety measures for disaster risk management are followed at the level 2, prioritizing and rescuing injured individuals based on their condition, searching for and saving trapped patients, and performing life-saving operations at the level 3, ensuring all trapped individuals in collapsed or damaged buildings are accounted for by conducting a thorough search of the entire area using modern technology and equipment at the level 4 and prioritizing the final phase of search and rescue operations, which involves clearing debris, searching for survivors, and using vehicles/equipment to facilitate the removal and clearing of wreckage at the level 5.

The emergency rescue team of Thailand has completed their mission of search and rescue operations up to the search and rescue standard level 4 in the buildings they were assigned to. A new rescue team from Thailand will be arriving, which marks the transfer of responsibility. It has been reported that their duties have now concluded, and they are returning to Thailand.

MNA/TTA

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