Saturday, 17 May 2008
"OPERATION LION HEART" (CHINA EARTHQUAKE)
SCDF Lion Heart Contingent arrives in China - Update 4

Upon arrival at Chengdu, China at 1945hrs (Singapore time, 16 May 2008), SCDF’s 55-member strong rescue contingent made their way north-east by land to Shifang County, about 60km from the airport.

At 0100hrs (17 May 2008) the contingent met up with authorities from Shifang County’s Temporary Rescue and Relief Operations Centre for a briefing. Contingent Commander, LTC Francis Ng How Juah was briefed on the deployment plans as well as the local terrain in which they would be operating in. Following the briefing the contingent made their way to Hongbai town, about 50km northwest of Shifang.

Upon arrival at Hongbai town at 0615hrs, LTC Francis Ng met up with local authorities in the area to finalise the deployment plans. The rescue contingent set up their operations base close to the local Rescue and Relief Centre and commenced search and rescue operations at 0745hrs (Singapore local time) at an area about 150m from the operations base. Since this morning SCDF has conducted search and rescue operations at 5 sites where there are collapsed building structures. Operations are currently on-going.