MYANMAR faces impacts of natural disasters, especially in the monsoon season. Although many types of natural disasters, such as storms, floods, landslides, and outbreaks of fire, can be forecast in advance thanks to experts from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology as well as other meteorologists, not only Myanmar but all countries cannot forecast the possibility of earthquakes.
As such, the severe Mandalay earthquake left unprecedented loss and damage in some regions and states in Myanmar last year. As soon as the earthquake hit Myanmar, international organizations and rescue teams from various countries provided aid to Myanmar. Although not all victims could be rescued, these international rescue teams carried out search and rescue operations to save as many victims as possible.
Currently, to ensure an effective and rapid response in the event of natural disasters and other emergencies occurring anywhere across the country, 17 companies comprising 116 permanent and auxiliary firefighters each have been organized at the headquarters of the Myanmar Fire Brigade in Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, and in the regions and states. In addition, 333 platoons, each comprising 35 permanent and auxiliary firefighters, have been formed at the township/town level. A total of 13,627 search and rescue personnel have thus been organized in a state of readiness.
From among these search and rescue teams, 30 firefighters who met the required criteria were selected and formed into a team and received urban search and rescue (USAR) training from instructors from France and Singapore in October 2019. In addition, firefighters from the advanced search and rescue training courses conducted by the department are being screened and selected for the continued formation of a specialized urban search and rescue (USAR) team.
Two Medium Team-level Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams have been formed and trained at the Myanmar Fire Services Department Headquarters in Yangon and the Fire Services Department in Nay Pyi Taw. The State has also provided the two teams with modern search and rescue equipment and operational vehicles, appointed a total of eight doctors and nurses, and raised nine search dogs (canines), which have been trained in basic obedience and search techniques.
Based on the experience and lessons learned from cooperation with international search and rescue teams during the Mandalay earthquake, Myanmar has been working to further enhance its existing search and rescue capabilities in line with international standards. At present, efforts are being carried out to conduct training, provide the necessary equipment, and undergo international-level assessment and accreditation to ensure the safety of society.
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