Thai search & rescue dogs also comfort relatives of those missing in earthquake ruins

As the death toll from Myanmar's cataclysmic earthquake creeps past 3,000, the extent of its devastation has also been felt in its neighbouring country Thailand.

A dark shadow was cast on the capital after a skyscraper in Bangkok collapsed mid-construction, with the fate of 72 missing victims still up in the air, according to AP.

But glimpses of light have managed to seep through.

Clad in orange vests, the rescue canines of K9 Usar Thailand nosed their way around the rubble, on high alert for any signs of trapped victims.

As part of a non-profit group working to help the local government locate survivors, the dogs' primary focus is saving lives.

But their presence also became an unexpected source of solace for those waiting desperately for the news of their missing loved ones.

Comfort sought and given

Search efforts in the area have stretched past the 100-hour mark, reported Reuters.

A total of 15 bodies have been pulled from the site of the collapsed structure.

No survivors have surfaced.

As they waited, the relatives of those missing had their weary minds soothed by the dogs that mingled with the crowd during break times.

Photos of the scene showed people gaining strength from the canines with a simple touch.

The respite, though brief, was enough to keep them going.

An unspoken promise

Rescue teams that continue to comb the debris face an uphill battle, not knowing whether they'll chance upon more bodies or survivors, if any at all.

The lack of a complete blueprint and the building's thick structural side walls make it even harder to strategise their rescue and salvage efforts, according to one official.

Cutting through the weight of uncertainty and worry, however, the dogs' light pierces through like a steady beacon of hope.

"Amid those great losses, it’s a small moment of happiness that can lift their spirits," said the deputy director of K9 Usar Thailand, as quoted by The Independent.

“I believe [the dogs'] gentleness is what gives spirit to the relatives. It’s like making a promise that they'll be here with them until all the victims are found.”

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Top images via K9 Usar Thailand/Facebook