As the search for dead bodies in Blantyre, Malawi continues, local authorities have brought on search dogs to support a team of soldiers and local people.
The death toll has risen to 326, announced Lazarus Chakwera, president of Malawi, on Thursday, totaling the number of victims across southern Africa to more than 400 since February.
The deployment of sniffer dogs has brought some hope to the search for dead bodies, which has been a grim and challenging process. Previously, rescuers had been armed only with shovels, and the search for buried and decomposing bodies had been slow and difficult.
However, with the addition of sniffer dogs to the search team, rescuers have been able to make progress. The dogs have been able to identify the location of buried bodies more quickly and accurately, allowing rescuers to focus their efforts on those areas.
“Two days ago we had some challenges. We were having some difficulties to trace where the dead bodies were, but today because of these sniffer dogs, we have managed to trace more [dead bodies] than some few days ago,” said Ruth Harawa, assistant commissioner of police.
The search for bodies has been taking place in Manje, a township around 15 kilometers (nine miles) south of Blantyre. In Manje, five bodies were recovered after locals said they had spotted bubbles forming under the muddy rubble.
As the chances of finding survivors fade, rescuers are unearthing more bodies. The cyclone that hit the region followed a highly unusual course by returning to lash southern Africa’s mainland a second time, causing widespread destruction and devastation.
The addition of sniffer dogs to the search team is a welcome development in the search for bodies. The dogs are highly trained and able to detect the scent of human remains even when buried under debris and rubble.
“The search for dead bodies is faster today than yesterday because of the sniffer dogs that have come. We are able to see what is happening because of the dogs,” said Kondwani Chilimba, a relative of four deceased people.
As the search for bodies continues, the people of Malawi are coming together to support each other in the aftermath of the cyclone.
The deployment of sniffer dogs is just one example of the efforts being made to find and identify the victims of this tragedy.