Heroes on four legs – K-9 unit praised after rescue operation in Bangkok

Following the Bangkok building collapse, attention has been focused on an often forgotten part of the emergency services – rescue dogs. The K-9 unit has played a vital role in the search for survivors.

When a building collapsed in northern Bangkok on March 28, 2025, a massive rescue effort was quickly mobilized. Among the first on the scene were rescue dogs from the K-9 unit, trained to search for people in crowds. The dogs work closely with their handlers and are trained to respond quickly, accurately, and safely even in highly dangerous environments.

Rescue work in disaster zone

According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), a total of 103 people affected by the collapse, there 18 deaths have been confirmed and 9 people have been rescuedAuthorities have not specified exactly how many of these rescues were made thanks to the K-9 dogs, but confirm that the dogs played a central role in the search efforts.

The K-9 unit completed its mission at the ruins on April 7th without any injuries to either handler or dogs. According to reports from the command, the team worked in particularly difficult-to-reach areas where technical aids could not be used effectively.

Effective in disasters

Rescue dogs are especially valuable in earthquakes, explosions or building collapses where time is of the essence. Their sense of smell allows them to find people who are neither seen nor heard. According to emergency managers, K-9s have assisted both Thai rescue teams and international units in zones where search robots or drones have not reached.

Training, trust and recognition

The Thai K-9 dogs are regularly trained at special facilities where they learn to navigate difficult terrain, ignore distractions and work closely with their handlers. Symbolic image: Rescue dog from a similar operation in Taiwan. The image captures the strong bond between handler and dog – a bond that also characterized Thailand's K-9 unit during the operation in Bangkok.

"Without our four-legged colleagues, many operations would have been significantly more difficult," says a spokesperson from the rescue services.

Summary

The rescue dogs have become heroes in the media and social networks – not only for their efforts on the ground, but also as a symbol of hope, perseverance and the silent work that saves lives. Although it is not yet confirmed that the dogs found all nine survivors, their contribution is being celebrated.

The image above is symbolic and shows a rescue dog from a similar operation in Taiwan.

Sources: Bangkok Post, National News Thailand (NTT), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)

Text: The editorial staff

Image license: Lin Qianyu, Wikimedia, original image