Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal police officer and his K9 partner, who have a wealth of experience in search and rescue operations, are en route to Nepal to assist in rescue efforts following the deadly earthquake which hit that country on Saturday.
Lieutenant Jack Haskins from Pietermaritzburg and canine partner, Bear, were en route to Nepal on Tuesday and will be deployed to help in search and rescue efforts in the wake of the earthquake which left close to 5 000 dead in mainly Nepal.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni said she fully supported Haskins and said: “We wish him good luck and we hope he returns home safely after the duration of the rescue operation.”
The United Nations has estimated that eight million people have been affected – almost a quarter of the population – in Nepal.
The death toll is expected to reach 10 000 while hundreds of thousands more have been displaced or have fled in fear of aftershocks.
ANA