The armies of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia conducted a search and rescue exercise in Laos.

High-ranking representatives of the Lao Party, Government and Defense Ministries of the three countries visited the exercise. Photo: Ho Viet

This is the first time the armies of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have coordinated a large-scale exercise to respond to frequent disasters that may threaten the lives of people in the three countries downstream of the Mekong River.

Military Region 4's vessels and helicopters mobilize for rescue on the river. Photo: Ho Viet

The armies of the three countries mobilized elite forces along with modern rescue equipment such as helicopters; multi-purpose rescue vehicles; ships, boats; and chemical defense vehicles to participate in the exercise.

Chemical troops of Military Region 4 and Laos handle toxic chemicals and participate in rescue. Photo: Ho Viet

Military Region 4 was honored to be assigned by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to preside over and coordinate with the Air Defense - Air Force and Border Guard to send forces and vehicles representing the Vietnam People's Army to participate in the exercise.

Soldiers from Military Region 4 and Laos participate in rescue operations when there is a landslide. Photo: Ho Viet

The drill content includes search and rescue work in flooded areas such as: Search and rescue, rescue of victims of drowning, trapped in flooded areas; evacuation, lifting people in flooded areas to safety. Receiving, conducting initial medical first aid, classifying patients, transferring patients to field hospitals, classifying and treating mild patients on the spot, and transferring severe patients to treatment facilities.

Engineers of Military Region 4 transported the victim to the emergency room. Photo: Ho Viet

Search and rescue work in areas affected by landslides; collapsed buildings, and toxic chemical leaks into the environment such as: Search and rescue of victims trapped or buried by landslides in mountainous areas and in collapsed buildings; Search and rescue of victims affected by toxic chemical leaks from collapsed buildings; transport patients to field hospitals for treatment; and bring seriously ill patients to higher-level facilities for treatment.

After nearly a session of practicing handling natural disaster and catastrophe situations, the exercise was a great success, ensuring the safety of people and technical equipment.

The Engineering Force of Military Region 4 conducts search and rescue operations in areas affected by landslides and collapsed structures. Photo: Ho Viet

Through the exercise, it aims to strengthen and develop the traditional friendship, solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and mutual assistance between the three countries' armies and peoples; enhance the initiative of the three countries' military agencies and units in coordination and humanitarian assistance, ensure timely and effective search and rescue operations, contribute to maintaining political security, and build a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing border area.

Lao People's Army conducts search and rescue operations in areas affected by landslides and collapsed buildings. Photo: Ho Viet

At the same time, promote cooperation activities between the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, the Ministry of National Defense of Laos and the Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia on search and rescue, raise awareness of proactive prevention and good preparation for responding to incidents, natural disasters, epidemics and search and rescue of the three countries' armies.