(KPL/VNA) A joint rescue and disaster response rehearsal among the armed forces of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia took place in Vientiane on October 15, to strengthen coordination and operational readiness in response to floods, landslides, and building collapse.

The event was attended by General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and his Lao and Cambodian counterparts, among other officials.

The exercise featured simulated rescue missions following collapsed structures and flood emergencies involving river and coastal search operations. This was one of the most important field training sessions for the armed forces of the three nations, designed to improve coordination in disaster response and protecting civilians.

In the scenario, prolonged heavy rains and flooding triggered landslides that destroyed homes and infrastructure in border regions. Engineering units from the three countries joined forces to search for and rescue victims trapped in collapsed buildings. Military medical teams provided first aid and evacuation to field hospitals, while helicopters were mobilised to transport victims to higher-level medical facilities.

Boats, helicopters, and drones were used to locate and evacuate the victims.

Lieutenant General Saichay Kommasith, Lao Deputy Minister of National Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army (LPA) said that the joint rescue and disaster response drill were organised amidst increasingly unpredictable climate change and a rise in natural disasters over the recent past, noting that the exercise helped deepen the military cooperation among the three countries, providing them with an opportunity to share experience in rescue and disaster response.

KPL