TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) met with members of the Kaohsiung Fire Department's Special Search and Rescue team as they returned to their home base at 2 p.m. on Sunday (April 7).

Standing in front of the assembled team, Chen bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude for their hard work and commitment, per CNA. He later pledged to increase their food budget and hoped each member could enjoy a good rest after their deployment to the Hualien area following the April 3 earthquake.

The Kaohsiung Fire Department issued a press release saying it had invested a lot of manpower in completing difficult search and rescue tasks associated with the earthquake. Furthermore, the size of the team, equipment preparation, and range of functions all reached international standards. 

The fire department said the search and rescue team sent to Hualien included 48 police and firefighters, 12 volunteer firefighters, three medical staff, and two civil engineering personnel. Four specially trained dogs also participated in search and rescue efforts.

As of Saturday (April 6), the Kaohsiung Fire Department said it had assisted in evacuating 181 people: 44 from the Taroko Village Hotel and 137 from Silks Place Taroko. Each evacuee was given on-the-spot medical attention and follow-up care.

The Kaohsiung Fire Department Search and Rescue Team assisted in the retrieval of two bodies, one from the Uranus Building in Hualien and one from Shakadang Trail. Civil engineers also assisted in damage assessment at 15 locations in Hualien County.

Chen said the search and rescue team showed professionalism and a fearless spirit. Despite severe conditions which included aftershocks and falling rocks, they conducted difficult rescue operations allowing the families of victims to experience a sense of ease during trying times.