Army’s K-9 trackers used to hasten rescue efforts

Friday, February 10, 2012

THE 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army revealed that K-9 trackers were sent to the landslide areas in Negros Oriental to help hasten the rescue and retrieval operations.

The landslide was triggered by 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Negros Island Monday.

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At least 400 soldiers, Cafgus and reservists were also deployed in the area to intensify the rescue and retrieval operations, according to Captain Anacito Naz, Civil Military Operations Officer of the 302nd Brigade.

The Philippine Air Force helicopters also played a vital role in extricating the injured survivors from the site and in bringing them to the nearest hospital for medical treatment.

The report also said that a water purifier was also airlifted to La Libertad to address the shortage of potable water in the area.

Over 150 personnel with three backhoes are still conducting retrieval operations in Solonggon, La Libertad landslide area.

Eight more bodies were retrieved by rescuers in various landslide areas in Negros Oriental which were severely hit by the tremor.

Meanwhile, Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Benito Ramos said the latest count of fatalities as of Thursday was 34, up from 26 bodies accounted for last Wednesday.

Seventy-one are still missing, he added.

Ramos said that aside from the aftershocks, the rescue and retrieval operations are further hampered by the rain.

Ramos said the aftershock count since Monday to Thursday reached 1,200.

He added that families of those believed buried under the landslides still hope that their kin are still alive. (TED)