Journalism of Courage
Rescue dogs are aiding search efforts at the site of a collapsed 30-story building in Bangkok, which crumbled following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar on Friday. (AP photo)
More than 100 hours into the search, at least 15 people have been confirmed dead, with 72 still missing, as per Reuters. (AP photo)
The highly trained canines, including Sahara, Safari, Lek, Lilly, and Naree, are part of a non-profit organization working with the Thai government in disaster response. Their task is to climb onto the rubble and detect any signs of human life trapped beneath. (AP photo)
After each operation, the dogs are given medical check-ups, their paws are inspected for injuries, and they are placed in their kennels for rest. (AP photo)
On Wednesday, two golden retrievers briefly switched roles, providing emotional support to the families of those still missing. At a temporary shelter, relatives petted the dogs and spoke softly to them, hoping they would help find their loved ones. (AP photo)
The collapsed building was under construction when it fell within seconds, as captured in videos taken by witnesses. An anti-corruption watchdog had previously flagged irregularities in its construction, and officials have since found substandard steel among the wreckage. (AP photo)
Following the disaster, Thailand has ordered safety inspections of about 11,000 private high-rise buildings. A government survey of 3,375 public buildings found 34 with severe structural damage. (AP photo)
