APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) A South African Police Service (SAPS) team of five sniffer dogs and their handlers have been honoured by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for rescuing one victim and recovering over 200 bodies during the devastating earthquakes in February.
The SAPS K9 search team, which was led by Vimla Moodley, was recognised for its assistance during rescue and recovery effort for devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria that claimed over 50,000 lives, the SAPS said in a statement on Wednesday.
Moodley was the commander who was tasked with leading the SAPS rescue and recovery operations – along with the Gift of the Givers Foundation rescue mission, it added.
Moodley received a Medal of Supreme Sacrifice on behalf of SAPS, and the five sniffer dogs and their handlers were individually honoured by the Turkey government.
“The SAPS K9 team was among the first few rescue teams to arrive and successfully assisted in recovering and rescuing one live victim aged 90 after nine days of being trapped under the rubble — and recovered over 200 bodies,” the SAPS statement said.
The SAPS K9 search and rescue teams have been involved in numerous recovery operations across the world — including the Haiti 2010 earthquake which also killed thousands of Haitians.
NM/jn/APA