The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has deployed over 100 rescuers to assist in search and rescue, and other humanitarian efforts in the region. This includes a 23-man contingent in Banda Aceh, Indonesia and 80 rescuers in Khao Lak, Thailand.

An update on the search efforts in the two areas is as follows:

Aceh, Indonesia

• Search operations in Banda Aceh commenced in the afternoon of 31 Dec 2004 in the vicinity around the Blang Padang Stadium. 15 bodies were recovered from the area.
• Yesterday evening, a Singaporean couple approached the SCDF contingent and requested help to search for some relatives believed to be trapped under debris in a house at Jalan Pang Lateh, Merduati, Aceh.
• Operations began at the premises in the Merduati area at 9.00am today. The building is a 2-storey bungalow that is totally collapsed.
• As at 6.30pm today (Singapore time), the SCDF recovered 6 bodies from the site.
  UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment & Coordination) team member, MAJ Kadir, is currently stationed at the Bandar Aceh airport along with UN colleagues to coordinate the rescue efforts of the international rescue teams.
• LTC N Subhas, also an UNDAC representative, is assisting in the management of the UNDAC media centre in Aceh.

Khao Lak, Thailand

• After arrival at Khaolak, Khao Lak, in the afternoon of 30 Dec 2004, the 23-member contingent was divided into two sectors and deployed for search and rescue operations at the Seaview Resort and the Laguna Resort (where most Singaporeans are believed to be).
• Light rescue equipment such as pneumatic breakers, hydraulic spreaders, jacks and air bags were used in the operations.
• The contingent proceeded to search northwards along the coastal areas in Khaolak; operations were augmented by the arrival of the reinforcement detachment of 57 rescuers (bringing total number to 80) dispatched from Singapore yesterday morning.
• The contingent has been split into 14 sections comprising 5-6 rescuers each to continue search operations at Khaolak.
• 0 bodies have been extricated in the area.
• A member of the contingent, NSman CPT (Dr) Mohan Tiruchittampalam, has been providing medical attention to people with no access to medical attention. Local clinics are closed and the nearest hospital is about 30km away. The medical cases he has treated includes minor cuts and abrasions, cough and cold, gout attacks, etc.

The morale of the rescuers remains high, despite the heat and labour-intensive operations involved. The SCDF will continue its search and rescue operations at Aceh and Khao Lak for as long as it is needed