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The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has sent an additional contingent of 57 rescuers to Khao Lak, Thailand, to assist in search efforts currently undergoing in the area. The contingent, led by Cpt Alvin Tan, Officer Commanding of Bishan Fire Station, departed from the Paya Lebar Airbase this morning at approximately 8.45am and touched down in Thailand shortly before noon today. While the latest deployment is projected to be about a fortnight, this may extend depending on ground conditions.

This reinforcement Operations Lionheart deployment comes after two teams of 23 rescuers each had earlier been sent to disaster-hit Indonesia and Thailand on Wednesday, 29 Dec 2004. Both teams are currently assisting local authorities in search and rescue efforts. The team in Khao Lak has thus far extricated 9 bodies at the Sea View resort in Khao Lak while the team in Aceh has recovered 15 bodies in the vicinity of the Blang Padang Stadium, Bandar Aceh (both tallies as at 10.00am today).

The SCDF maintains an overseas rescue contingent, codenamed Operations Lionheart, on 24-hour standby. This contingent provides rescue-related assistance and support to countries that are stricken by major disasters. It was first activated during the 1990 Philippines earthquake. This was followed by deployment during the collapse of the Highlands Condominium in 1993 in Malaysia and the Taiwan earthquake in 1999.

To date, SCDF has deployed more than 100 rescuers to assist in humanitarian efforts in the region. This includes 2 paramedics who are currently with a SAF medical unit that headed to Aceh on board a naval Landing Ship Tank (LST) on the afternoon of Friday, 31 Dec 04. In addition, SCDF has 2 officers attached to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team in Indonesia to perform site assessment and coordination of international rescue efforts.