The daughter of a Myanmar woman remains trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building following the devastating earthquake - along with two other individuals - without confirmed whereabouts. On March 31, Vietnam’s military rescue team identified two potential victim locations as part of its search mission.

After arriving at Yangon International Airport on the evening of March 30, the Vietnamese rescue delegation traveled nearly 500 kilometers by road, reaching Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw just after 3 a.m. on March 31.

The team also delivered 30 tons of dry food aid to Myanmar authorities to support earthquake survivors. Soon after, the delegation moved 25 kilometers to a disaster site to begin search operations.

Vietnamese forces are currently conducting search-and-rescue operations in the Bala Tidi residential area of Zabuthiri District, Naypyitaw.

Based on the rescue strategy, the Vietnamese military team divided into three units, each responsible for one of three collapsed buildings. Each unit includes engineers, sniffer dog handlers, medics, and commanders assigned to lead operations directly on-site.

Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Rescue Department and Chief Commander of the mission, stated that the search is focused on three buildings - No. 2367, 2386, and 2387 - each containing 24 rooms.

According to local residents, three people remain trapped in this area - two women and one man.

“This area had three people trapped during the quake - two women and one man. Some international rescue teams have tried to pinpoint the location, but haven’t been able to. We desperately need your help,” the Myanmar woman, whose daughter has been trapped for three days, said tearfully.

When she saw the Vietnamese soldiers arrive, a flicker of hope returned to her face.

Major General Ty explained that sniffer dogs are used to detect scent trails, which could indicate either living victims or deceased individuals. When a detection is made, the first dog will bark as a signal. A second dog is then brought in to confirm the finding. If verified, the team deploys advanced detection tools such as ground-penetrating radar to precisely locate the victim.

He added that one of the biggest challenges is the lack of heavy machinery on the Myanmar side - such as excavators and cranes - forcing rescuers to rely heavily on manual tools and hand labor.

“We’ve confirmed two locations with likely victims. If conditions become unsafe at night, we’ll pause and resume search efforts the following morning,” General Ty said.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Manh Tien from the Border Guard’s Dog Training School noted that Myanmar’s daytime heat has affected the dogs’ scent detection performance. Nonetheless, both handlers and dogs remain determined to complete their mission.

Rescue forces are now racing against time, urgently searching for any sign of life amid the wreckage.

Also on March 31, Myanmar’s Minister of Hotels and Tourism, H.E. U Kyaw Soe Win, met with Major General Ty and Vietnamese officers to express heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Myanmar government and people for Vietnam’s support.

The minister, who previously served as Myanmar’s ambassador to Vietnam, emphasized his deep appreciation for the long-standing friendship between the two nations. He assured that accommodations and support services for the Vietnamese rescue team would be provided at the highest level.

Tran Thuong