SINGAPORE - The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has deployed an officer to the Philippines ahead of Typhoon Hagupit which is due to hit this weekend.

The officer is expected to be in the Philippines for about two weeks, said SCDF in a statement on Friday.

He will be part of a six-man Asean-Emergency Rapid Assessment Team, which comes under the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre). One of the team's primary function will be to provide rapid assessment and determine the resources such as tents, medical kits and sanitation facilities needed in the areas affected by the typhoon.

Philippines remains on high alert with tens of thousands evacuated. Typhoon Hagupit is expected to cause strong winds, storm surges and flash floods.