How a rescue dog found elderly woman trapped in house days after Japan earthquake

Japan is going through trying times. The East Asian country in the recent days had witnessed two major disasters — a 7.5 magnitude quake and a plane crash that killed five. Around 250 people are still missing, as the critical 72-hour time frame for finding survivors from the time the earthquake occurred passed late Thursday. On Friday, the death toll in the remote Noto peninsula increased to 92. According to the news agency Kyodo, Japan’s Self-Defence Forces has intensified the search operation, doubling the number of troops taking part in rescue and relief. There were however some encouraging developments, with self-defence troops rescuing nearly 122 people. Notably, a dog played an important role in the rescue efforts. But how? Here’s take a closer look. Dog ‘Jennifer’ finds elderly woman trapped An elderly woman trapped in a house destroyed by a huge earthquake in central Japan was found and rescued by a search dog, the defence minister said Thursday. The dog, named Jennifer, is one of the specially trained canines deployed to the region’s hardest hit by the magnitude-7.5 quake that struck on New Year’s Day. They have joined thousands of troops and firefighters in the desperate search for survivors on the Sea of Japan coast. “The Self-Defence Forces had rescued 122 people by yesterday, including an elderly woman in a house in Wajima City, who was found and rescued by a search dog (Jennifer),” Defence Minister Minoru Kihara wrote on X. “Today, which is a crucial day, the number of personnel will be increased to approximately 4,600,” he added. At least 84 people have been confirmed dead after the earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks, with 79 others listed as missing by local authorities. Hopes are fading for other successful rescues, however, as the third day of the desperate hunt draws to a close. Monday’s earthquake toppled tall buildings and flattened homes, triggering major landslides and tsunami waves over one metre high. No relief in sight Tens of thousands are still without power or running water as a result of Japan’s big earthquake. The anguish was exacerbated by frigid temperatures and heavy rain. More aftershocks shook Ishikawa prefecture and surrounding areas on Wednesday. The heavy rains also spurred concerns about landslides, which might complicate efforts to rescue individuals trapped under rubble. With inputs from AFP