After more than a week of humanitarian operations in Myanmar following a devastating earthquake, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security’s search and rescue team has completed its mission and is preparing to return to Vietnam.

On the evening of April 7, a representative of the rescue team confirmed that over the past seven days, the team had independently recovered the bodies of seven victims trapped under rubble. They also assisted international rescue teams from Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore in retrieving seven additional bodies, all of which were handed over to families for funeral arrangements.

In addition to recovery efforts, the team provided medical aid to over 50 people injured during the earthquake, including treatment, disinfection, wound care, and medication. They also set up two temporary shelters for displaced victims and sprayed disinfectant and mosquito repellents over 5,000 square meters in affected residential areas.

The Vietnamese team also conducted five community outreach events, offering direct financial support to six families of deceased victims, with donations totaling more than 12 million VND (approx. 475 USD).

“All team members demonstrated unwavering determination and a readiness to overcome hardship in order to fulfill their mission. The entire operation was conducted with clear, consistent direction and precise task assignments,” the representative shared.

According to the team, the people of Myanmar expressed deep gratitude and emotional support for the Vietnamese delegation - particularly families of those who were recovered after previously unsuccessful efforts by other teams.

“In most of the cases we handled, earlier assessments had been done by international teams but they were unable to carry out the rescues. That the Vietnamese team succeeded in these extremely challenging situations earned the respect of other units and the heartfelt appreciation of the victims' families,” the representative added.

The Vietnamese rescue team is expected to depart Myanmar and return home in the early morning hours of April 8.

Previously, on March 30, the Ministry of Public Security held a deployment ceremony to send the 26-member team to Myanmar. The team was led by Colonel Nguyen Minh Khuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue.

The mission included search and recovery operations, medical assistance, and broader disaster response efforts in areas severely affected by the earthquake.

Dinh Hieu