The military team ready to travel to the airport for a flight to Myanmar on Sunday. VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — More than 100 Vietnamese military and public security personnel departed for Myanmar on Sunday to assist the quake-hit country in search and rescue efforts.

The Ministry of National Defence has mobilised an 80-member delegation while the Ministry of Public Security has sent a team of 26 officers.

The defence ministry's team is led by Major General Phạm Văn Ty, deputy director of the Search and Rescue Department.

They are equipped with essential supplies, medical aid, six rescue dogs, and tonnes of relief materials.

The team also has advanced rescue equipment, including a sound detection device, acoustic and visual search radar, hydraulic excavation support equipment and a handheld victim search device for locating individuals trapped under rubble.

Team members include personnel from the Engineer Corps, military hospitals, border guard forces, the Search and Rescue Department and other key units from the Ministry of National Defence, the General Staff and the General Political Department.

Many members previously participated in Việt Nam’s earthquake relief mission in Turkey in 2023, demonstrating strong discipline, teamwork and resilience in challenging conditions, the defence ministry said.

Assigning tasks to the team on Sunday, General Nguyễn Tân Cương, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence, emphasised the complex political and security situation in Myanmar and the severe challenges posed by the earthquake’s aftermath.

He highlighted the difficulties related to transportation, extreme weather conditions and operational risks that the rescue forces, including the Vietnamese military contingent, would face.

On behalf of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, he urged the team to fully comprehend their mission, uphold their sense of responsibility and overcome difficulties to accomplish their tasks.

He stressed the importance of executing rescue and humanitarian efforts effectively, ensuring safety, and assisting the people of Myanmar to the best of their ability, without causing inconvenience to local authorities and residents.

The team was directed to maintain close cooperation with international forces and Myanmar’s local government while strictly adhering to international laws, host country regulations and military discipline.

For complex and urgent situations, General Cương instructed the military officers to seek guidance from the Ministry of National Defence when necessary, but also empowered them to make on-the-spot decisions.

He said in high-pressure situations, immediate decisions are crucial to mission success.

The General encouraged the task force team to uphold the values and traditions of the Việt Nam People's Army, acting as ambassadors of goodwill to strengthen Việt Nam’s international standing.

He urged them to engage with the local population through concrete actions that reflect the professionalism and humanitarian spirit of Vietnamese soldiers.

In addition to the military contingent, the Ministry of Public Security has dispatched a 26-member rescue team to Myanmar, led by Colonel Nguyễn Minh Khương, deputy director of the Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue.

The team includes search and rescue soldiers, foreign affairs officers, doctors and interpreters along with various specialised equipment for the quake relief operations.

Firefighting soldiers deployed on a search and rescue mission in Myanmar on Sunday.

Colonel Khương said the team members are all experienced officers who joined the rescue efforts in Turkey in 2023. The team will transfer about 10 tonnes of rescue equipment and medical supplies.

Over a 10-day mission, they will engage in search and rescue operations, medical treatment, disaster recovery efforts and other field activities as requested by Myanmar authorities, in accordance with their expertise and capabilities. VNS