An 80-strong contingent from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), including four search canines, departed for Myanmar on 29 March, 2025, to assist in search and rescue operations following a powerful earthquake that struck the country.
The team was deployed under SCDF’s Operation Lionheart framework, which supports international disaster relief efforts. It marks SCDF’s first full-strength mission since its deployment to Turkey in 2023 for a similar earthquake relief effort, according to a spokesman quoted by The Straits Times.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on 28 March, killing at least 1,000 people and injuring more than 2,300, with the death toll expected to rise, according to recent reports.
The quake, which severely damaged infrastructure in Mandalay and other parts of central Myanmar, was followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock and several smaller tremors.
SCDF said in a Facebook post that the deployment follows a rare call for international aid from Myanmar’s military government.
The Operation Lionheart force includes personnel from SCDF’s elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART), fire stations, and specialists in hazardous materials, as well as full-time National Servicemen doctors and paramedics.
The team gathered at SCDF headquarters in Ubi on the morning of 29 March for a final briefing before boarding a Singapore Airlines flight, arranged on short notice.
They were equipped with battery-operated urban search and rescue tools, including cutting, breaking, and lifting devices, as well as life-detection equipment and fibre-optic scopes.
SCDF said this equipment will enable the team to carry out time-critical search and rescue operations swiftly upon arrival in affected areas.
Colonel Tay Zhi Wei, commander of Operation Lionheart, said the team’s primary mission is to locate and rescue survivors trapped under rubble. He added that the deployment is expected to last up to 14 days, depending on conditions on the ground.
“The team is prepared to adapt its efforts based on the situation and the needs of the local community,” he stated on the morning of the team’s departure.
Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, Faishal Ibrahim, was present at SCDF headquarters to bid the team farewell. He expressed confidence in the officers and praised their readiness and commitment.
“I’m elated and touched by the spirit of our SCDF officers. They told me they are ever ready. Their families also turned up in full support despite some only being informed at 1am today,” he said.
Families were seen waving the officers off as their buses departed Ubi for the airport, in scenes described as emotional and heartfelt.
In addition to the main contingent, SCDF announced that three more officers would be deployed to Myanmar under the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT), contributing to the region’s coordinated response.
The SCDF expressed gratitude to Singapore Airlines, ST Logistics, and the Sats Singapore Hub team for their prompt support in enabling the quick deployment of resources and personnel.
“We wish our Operation Lionheart contingent a safe and successful mission,” the SCDF said in its Facebook post.
The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) also responded to the disaster. On 29 March, it pledged an initial S$150,000 in emergency aid to Myanmar and Thailand, both affected by the quake. SRC announced plans to launch a public fund-raising campaign to support ongoing humanitarian relief efforts.
The earthquake’s impact was felt beyond Myanmar, with tremors reaching parts of Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city and a key religious and cultural centre, bore much of the structural damage.
The deployment of Operation Lionheart is part of Singapore’s ongoing commitment to regional disaster assistance and underscores the readiness of its civil defence force to respond swiftly in times of humanitarian crisis.
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