From Noraizura Ahmad
NANNING, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- China showcased its firefighting and urban emergency rescue capabilities to media and participants of the 3rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Urban Emergency Rescue Workshop here through demonstration of equipment used by its fire and rescue teams.
The five-day workshop, from Sept 17 to 21, brings together ARF participants and international organisations for technical exchanges and practical activities on urban emergency rescue.
Media from Malaysia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia were given an insight into China’s approach to firefighting and rescue operations, including its use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), aerial ladders and specialised firefighting vehicles.
The Person in Charge of the Guangxi Fire and Rescue Team Exercise Group said the equipment demonstrated was already being used in actual firefighting and rescue operations.
Among the equipment showcased was a long-duration UAV capable of operating for up to six hours and carrying specialised equipment for search and rescue operations, including during earthquakes, floods and heavy rain.
For high-rise emergencies, China also demonstrated a tethered firefighting UAV capable of delivering water up to 150 metres and foam up to 200 metres.
Other equipment included a 101-metre aerial ladder fire truck and a Long Span Water Tower Fire Truck for high-rise firefighting and rescue operations, while Shenzhen-based robotics company Astrall Dynamics showcased its Hypertron-T01 heavy-duty industrial quadruped robotic dog.
The workshop also featured equipment for specialised situations, including airport emergencies, power outages and foam-based fire suppression.
Meanwhile, the Multi-Hazard Field Exercise held from Sept 18 to 20 brought together more than 300 rescue personnel from 21 Chinese and international teams representing 11 countries, including Malaysia.
The exercise simulated a magnitude 7.8 earthquake outside China, followed by secondary disasters such as flooding, urban waterlogging, traffic accidents and people stranded in isolated areas.
Participants also carried out search and rescue operations involving collapsed structures, confined spaces, mountainous areas, traffic accidents and water rescue.
According to the exercise organisers, the scenario included a request for international humanitarian assistance and followed international rescue guidelines established by the United Nations International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).
For the first time, earthquake response and water rescue operations were integrated into the same exercise, with participants combining conventional rescue methods with technologies such as underwater robots and large multipurpose UAVs.
The exercise also tested key aspects of international disaster response, including team mobilisation, joint assessment, task allocation, risk assessment and cross-border information sharing.
-- BERNAMA