Myanmar quake: SCDF and HTX teams return to Singapore
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE – The team of rescuers and engineers who left for Myanmar following March 28’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake has returned to Singapore.
The 80-strong Operation Lionheart contingent from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and four personnel from the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) and Klass Engineering, arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 3 at about 4pm on April 8.
They were greeted by Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam and Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.
Thanking the members of the contingent for their sacrifice, Mr Shanmugam noted that 13 of the SCDF officers were operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen), the largest number involved in such an operation so far.
“We think of the thousands of people in Myanmar who are affected, but you went in despite serious risks from aftershocks and the nature of the place, the kind of terrain, and of course the buildings,” he said.
“You worked in that kind of risky situation, and you helped save a life,” said the minister, who added that SCDF has now been involved in 21 such operations overseas.
Family members of 48 Muslim SCDF officers, who left for Naypyitaw before Hari Raya Puasa on March 31, were among those gathered at the airport.
Ms Nurfatin Zaini turned up with her parents, two daughters, aged nine and seven, and her four-year-old son.
The children had prepared welcome banners for their father, NSman Nasharudin Abu Bakar.
“The children were quite distraught at first and kept asking about their daddy. They wanted to travel to Myanmar to look for him,” said Ms Nurfatin.
The 35-year-old homemaker added: “The past week has been quite challenging for our family. It was difficult for my husband to call home because of the bad reception, and we were worried about his safety.”
Captain Nasharudin was happy to be reunited with his family.
“This is the first time I’ve been away from them for Hari Raya since I got married 10 years ago,” he said.
“Now that I’m back, we plan to catch up on our Hari Raya visits and spend time with the rest of the family,” he added.
The contingent was greeted by Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam (centre) and Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (right).
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
The team of rescuers arrived in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, on March 29
They were on the ground for about 10 days, with the HTX and Klass Engineering team using 10 cyborg cockroaches
The SCDF contingent included members of the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, full-time national servicemen doctors, paramedics, four canines and search and hazardous materials specialists.
The team leader, Colonel Tay Zhi Wei, said search-and-rescue operations ended about six days after they arrived.
“Even as the search-and-rescue phase ended, we continued to make ourselves useful and helped to recover bodies,” said Col Tay.
“We also set up a medical clinic, where more than 130 people came to see our doctors for earthquake-related ailments, such as musculoskeletal injuries,” he said, adding that other international teams have since stepped forward to provide medical aid.
The earthquake has killed over 3,400 people and injured 4,600 others.
More than 17 million people have been affected, according to the United Nations.
