02.04.2025 – (12:01 PM)

Q. . Please tell us about the difficulties you are currently facing.

A. . Currently, buildings have collapsed due to the earthquake, and we are rescuing people below. In some places, the roads for the machines to enter the buildings are narrow. There are places where the machines cannot reach to demolish a building. If we call the machines that can reach, there are places where they cannot get out of the way. And there are tools that are needed, whether for rescue or for removing the DB. Even we don’t understand some of the terms. Each has its own place and the tools that it needs. Hydraulic cutters and guns are not enough. Currently, there are some that are not up to the requirements. There is a shortage of manpower. There are many difficulties encountered in other areas.

Q. . Aftershocks are also occurring frequently, so are these also challenges for you?

A. . That is the main problem. Many buildings have collapsed due to earthquakes, and some have not collapsed but are very dangerous. At that time, when you rescue a living person, you have to do it. Sometimes, when you are uncertain, it is very difficult. Whether to do it or not. If you are still alive, as I said, there are aftershocks, but as rescuers outside, you are brave. We can also become victims. But in uncertain situations, we have to be careful. There are many people asking for help. As I said, if there is a living person, we have to do it. If there is no living person, we have to do it. Now, we have to do it to retrieve the body. We have also seen that international teams are working with this system. The Chinese teams have machines that can tell if someone is still alive or not. We have used them to make decisions.

Q. . So far, how many people have we been able to rescue and how many people have died?

A. . Now, all the teams in Mandalay are working together, so we were able to find a lot of people, both those who were rescued and those who died. I can’t even remember the number. There is a list. I can’t remember exactly. We are giving priority to search and rescue.