TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior held a 36-hour mission-readiness certification for search-and-rescue dog teams, testing handlers and their dogs across a series of nonstop simulated disaster scenarios.

Sixteen of the 20 participating teams achieved “mission ready” status under standards set by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group and the International Search and Rescue Dog Organization, per CNA.

This year’s certification included 18 teams from Taiwan and two from Japan. The assessment took place at the Fire Department Training Center and required teams to complete five practical examinations, including rubble searches and nighttime operations. To pass, teams needed to reach a 70% search success rate.

The teams that earned certification included units from Japan’s RDTA, as well as fire departments in Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien County, along with the National Fire Agency’s Special Search and Rescue Team.

The MOI said top domestic and international experts oversaw the evaluation. Senior examiners from the International Search and Rescue Dog Organization led the assessment, with additional evaluators from Japan’s RDTA (Search and Rescue Dog Trainers Association). International observers from Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines also attended.

The ministry said the certified teams demonstrate Taiwan’s strong search-and-rescue capabilities and reinforce its leading position in Asia. It added that Taiwan will continue promoting professional development for handlers and will introduce technologies such as AI to enhance missions.

The MOI said further development of canine search-and-rescue teams will also deepen cooperation with international humanitarian groups and support global disaster relief efforts, including United Nations earthquake response missions.