The death toll continues to rise after a devastating earthquake caused widespread destruction in Turkey and Syria. Rescuers are working against the clock to free hundreds of people thought to be trapped under rubble.
While countries are sending suport, Mexico is sending some of its famous search and rescue dogs to Turkey to help look for people buried under rubble following Monday’s earthquake.
A plane with 16 dogs on board took off from Mexico City earlier on Tuesday.
Mexico, which is prone to earthquakes, has highly specialised civilian and military teams which are often deployed to help when disasters strike.
The dogs won the hearts of Mexicans during the country’s 2017 quake, when they saved several lives.
Mexico is not the only country sending dogs to help with the rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria.
Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Libya, Poland, Switzerland, the UK and the United States are all also deploying canines with their handlers.
The animals are often used in areas where the use of heavy machinery could cause the rubble to collapse further, putting the lives of survivors at risk.
The dogs are trained to sniff out humans and alert their handlers by barking and scratching the ground where the smell is strongest.
Mexican officials say their mission is “to save lives” and while the dogs can detect the smell of bodies as well as that of those who are buried under the rubble alive, the hope is that their quick deployment will result in rescues rather than recoveries.
