Thailand's Furry Friends Help Find Survivors In Earthquake-Hit Bangkok

Rescue operations are under full swing in earthquake-hit Bangkok, where a 33-storey skyscraper turned into rubble within seconds, killing at least 13 people while over 70 remain buried. However, sources told NDTV that the number of people buried could be as high as 300 to 400. K9 USAR, Thailand's Rescue Dog Association, has stepped up as a ray of hope. The furry friends are on rescue duty, helping locate people - dead and alive.

In videos and pictures shared on K9 USAR Thailand's Facebook page, dogs can be seen treading carefully and sniffing through heaps of rubble.

Dog handlers carefully assess the area, including debris, which includes unstable building material, sharp objects, surface temperature, and grip, before deciding whether dogs should be worn in shoes or barefooted for a task. It is to provide dogs with stability and comfort while they work to save a life.

On Saturday, one of the dogs, K9 Sahara, was given shoes on the front legs as the area was "quite loose and uncertain".