Rescue dogs search for survivors after Sichuan landslide

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At the scene of Saturday's landslide in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, a group of sniffer dogs, nicknamed "silent fighting brothers" by rescue workers, have been busy trying to find signs of life under the debris.

Photo by CGTN's Zheng Yibing via Sichuan firefighting department

Shuttling back and forth in a hostile environment, the dogs have, like their human counterparts, been left exhausted after searching for over ten hours without a rest.

Some have suffered injuries to their noses and legs after searching through the rubble.

Photo by CGTN's Zheng Yibing via Sichuan firefighting department

According to Chengdu Business Daily, the sniffer dogs only had two meals a day.

"These dogs were exhausted and some appeared to be in low spirits. They are our close fighting brothers, and we should be nice to them," trainer Qing Ming said while comforting a dog named Simba with some watermelon.

Trainer Qing Ming with dog Simba /Chengdu Business Daily Photo

CGTN reporter Zheng Yibing, quoting data collected by the Sichuan firefighting department, reported there were 686 people from eight teams deployed to help conduct the search and rescue operation.

Assisted by 25 sniffer dogs and 31 pieces of life-detection equipment, they have been working around the clock to find any survivors beneath the ruins.

At least 93 people are still missing, along with 10 confirmed dead in the disaster. Over 2,000 rescue workers are still in a race against time to find more who were buried by the landslide.