Singapore sent a team to China this morning to help authorities there with search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake.

Codenamed Operations Lionheart, the 55-member Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) is led by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Ng How Juah, Commander of the 4th Civil Defence Division, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) spokesman says the team brings with it search equipment and four dogs for the mission.

It is not yet clear which area team members are headed for, but they will work with the local authorities once they arrive in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan province.

新加坡今天派出一队55人组成的民防部队灾难拯救队伍，到四川地震灾区协助救灾。该队伍已经在今天早上已飞成都。

本次以“狮心行动”为代号的特别拯救队伍由新加坡民防部队第四分区司令Francis Ng How Juah中校带领。

民防部队发言人表示，团队将携带搜索仪器及四条狗。

待他们抵达成都，他们将会和四川政府紧密合作进行救灾工作。

We wish all who are affected a speedy recovery. 我们祝愿灾区人民早日恢复正常生产生活。

SingCham Secretariat
中国新加坡商会 秘书处