On Sunday, 28 May 2006, the 43-member "Operation Lion Heart" contingent of the Singapore Civil Defence Force started to leave Singapore for Central Java in 3 military aircrafts from 0640 hrs and began to arrive at the Yogyakarta"s Adi Sutjipto Airport from noon.

Upon arrival, the SCDF contingent immediately conducted an assessment of the disaster site at Bantul and its surroundings. A temporary Operation Base for the contingent"s use had also been set up at the Adi Sutjipto Airport.

Search and rescue operations by the SCDF rescuers commenced at about 1900 hrs yesterday. The operation site was a collapsed 3-storey shophouse at Jalan K.H. Nuhdi along Sidiman/Jalan Solo in Yogyakarta. This is about 5 minutes drive from the Adi Sutjipto Airport. No casualties were found. The operations concluded at approximately 2130 hrs (local time) last night. The contingent is scheduled to conduct more search and rescue operations today in consultation with the local authorities of Bantul.

The SCDF "Operation Lion Heart" Contingent is self-sufficient in terms of food, fuel and equipment supplies. Apart from SCDF"s DART members with their specialized rescue equipment, the contingent has brought 1 medical officer and 2 paramedics; as well as 3 search dogs.