Thursday, 22 May 2008
" OPERATION LION HEART" (CHINA EARTHQUAKE)
SCDF Lion Heart Contingent Returns to Singapore - Situation Update 10

SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent to China ended its search and rescue operations in Hongbai Town on 21 May 2008. Deployed on 16 May 2008, the 55-member strong rescue contingent was based in Hongbai Township in Shifang city as part of Singapore’s humanitarian assistance to China. The Singapore rescue team was one of the four foreign rescue teams that assisted in China’s relief efforts. The other foreign teams are from Japan, Russia, and Republic of Korea.

In their 5-day search and rescue operation, the team carried out search operations at over a dozen sites of collapsed buildings. Five bodies were extricated from the collapsed structures and rubble. As operations in Hongbai town begin to move into the “recovery stage”, SCDF’s search and rescue services are no longer required.

Prior to their return, a simple appreciation ceremony was hosted by the Vice Governor of Sichuan, Huang Yanrong, to thank our rescuers for their efforts. A banner was presented to the Contingent Commander, LTC Francis Ng.

The SCDF’s 55-member rescue team will be returning to Singapore in 2 waves. The first batch of 39 rescuers left Chengdu, China, for Singapore at about 1300 hrs today and arrived at Paya Lebar Airbase in two Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) C-130 military aircraft at 2300 hrs. They were received by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, and Mdm Zhang Xiao Kang, PRC Ambassador to Singapore. The remaining 16 rescuers will leave Chengdu on Friday, and arrive in Singapore at about 2130hrs on a commercial flight.

Thursday, 22 May 2008
"OPERATION LION HEART" (CHINA EARTHQUAKE)
Appreciation Ceremony for SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent - Situation Update 9

After wrapping up their search and rescue operations in Hongbai Town, the SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent to China attended an appreciation ceremony hosted by Vice Governor of Sichuan, Huang Yanrong at the Jing Jiang Hotel yesterday evening. She presented a banner to LTC Francis Ng, in the presence of members of the media, including Channel NewsAsia, Lianhe Zaobao and some other local Chinese media.

The 55-member strong rescue contingent will be returning to Singapore in two waves. The first batch of 39 rescuers will arrive at Paya Lebar Airbase at onboard two Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) C-130s military aircraft today at about 2200hrs. The remaining 16 rescuers will arrive in Singapore on 23 May 2008 via SilkAir flight at 2130hrs.

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21 May 2008

SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent to China has ended its search and rescue operations in Hongbai Town. The 55-member strong rescue contingent which was based in Hongbai Township in Shifang city since Friday, 16 May 2008, will be returning to Singapore.

Wednesday, 21 May 2008
"OPERATION LION HEART" (CHINA EARTHQUAKE)
SCDF Rescue Contingent in China - Situation Update 7

SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent to China has ended its search and rescue operations in Hangbai Town. The 55-member strong rescue contingent had been based in Hongbai Township in Shifang city since arriving on Friday, 16 May 2008.

Over the last four days, SCDF’s rescuers conducted search operations at more than a dozen sites of collapse buildings. Five bodies were extricated from collapse buildings and rubble. As operations in Hongbai begin to move into the “recovery stage”, SCDF’s search and rescue services is no longer required. SCDF’s contingent is one of only four foreign rescue teams that China allowed in to assist with the search and rescue efforts.

Sunday,18 May 2008
"OPERATION LION HEART" (CHINA EARTHQUAKE)
SCDF Rescue Contingent Recovers 5 Bodies at Hongbai Town - Update 5

The SCDF Lion Heart Contingent to China, deployed after the 12 May 2008 Sichuan quake, has been assigned to conduct search and rescue operations at Hongbai town, 50 km northwest of Shifang. Working with information provided by the local authorities, the 55-member contingent carried out search operations at 10 sites throughout yesterday and today. The contingent’s first day of operations after arrival on 16 May 08 saw the extrication of 3 female casualties from a site on the east side of the town. Operations today have seen the contingent uncovering another 2 victims in the same town, making the total number of victims extricated by the team to 5 so far.

Operations on 17 May 2008




Operations on 17 May 2008 began at 0745 hrs. The first body was recovered at 2015hrs by the DART specialists using hydraulic spreaders, with the help of local heavy plant operators. The extrication of the body which was found at a partially collapsed 4-storey school building took 40 minutes. The search was supported by the rescue dog team.

At an area opposite the first find, separated by a railway track, the body of another woman was recovered from a collapsed structure at 2330 hrs. She was extricated from piles of concrete slabs and debris within 20 minutes.

At 2100hrs, the Chinese military personnel also discovered a half buried body of a Chinese woman and requested for assistance from SCDF to recover the body. The victim was extricated after 20 minutes with the use of hydraulic spreaders.

Operations on 18 May 2008




Operations conducted this morning at the same town also resulted in the SCDF rescue contingent finding 2 other casualties from amongst ruins of the earthquake.

The first body of a female Chinese was found at 1100 hrs at the 2nd storey of a partially collapsed 5-storey building. She was extricated at 1120 hrs. The second body of a male Chinese was found at 4pm and extricated within 30 minutes. He was found at the 2nd storey of a 4-storey building.

The search and rescue operations by the contingent is still on-going.

Besides search and rescue operations, the SCDF medics have also been approached by the local residents for medical aids and treatment.

Friday, 16 May 2008
"OPERATION LION HEART" (CHINA EARTHQUAKE)
SCDF Lion Heart Contingent depart for China - Update 2

SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent departed from Paya Lebar Airbase at 1115hrs (Singapore local time). Commissioner James Tan, Commissioner SCDF, was at Paya Lebar Airbase to send off the contingent.

The contingent is expected to arrive at Chengdu, China by 1930hrs (Singapore local time). Upon arrival at Chengdu, the Lion Heart Contingent will link up with the local authorities for a briefing before being deployed to assigned areas to carry out search and rescue operations.

Prior to the departure, SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent Commander, LTC Francis Ng How Juah, said the “footages and video images captured by the media have shown the devastating impact of the earthquake. We are determined to give our best and help rescue as many people who may still be trapped under fallen structures and building rubbles.

Friday, 16 May 2008
"OPERATION LION HEART" (CHINA EARTHQUAKE)
SCDF Lion Heart Contingent depart for China - Update 1

In response to the massive earthquake which struck Eastern Sichuan, China on 12 May 2008, the SCDF has deployed an overseas rescue contingent (codenamed Operation Lion Heart) to Chengdu, China.

SCDF’s Lion Heart Contingent departed from Paya Lebar Airbase at 1115hrs (local time) onboard two Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) C-130s military aircrafts. Commissioner James Tan, Commissioner SCDF was at Paya Lebar Airbase to send off the contingent. The flight is expected to take about 7 hours.

Upon arrival at Chengdu, China, the Lion Heart Contingent will link up with the local authorities for a briefing before being deployed to assigned areas to carry out search and rescue operations.