Czech firefighters await request for help after earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand

Czech firefighters are ready to help after the major earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. If the countries request help, the Urban Search and Rescue team is able to set off within six hours of acceptance, according to Lucie Pipiš, a spokeswoman for the Czech Fire Rescue Service. The emergency team has thirty-six members, including a structural engineer and a doctor, and five dogs. The team specialises in search and rescue in the rubble of populated areas.

The strong earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand at 07:20 on Friday morning (Czech time), with a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale. At least 144 people have been killed and more than 730 injured, the head of the country's military junta has stated, warning that the death toll could rise. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had no reports that Czech citizens are among those affected.