SCDF team in Türkiye for quake rescue efforts maintain 'high morale' despite fatigue

SINGAPORE — Although the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers involved in the rescue efforts in Türkiye "are tired", "morale remains high" among the team, said Col Chew Keng Tok, the leader of the 68-member contingent, in a media interview on Sunday (12 February).

The Straits Times reported that as soon as the team arrived in the earthquake-stricken city of Kahramanmaras in southern Türkiye on 8 February, the advance team of 20 SCDF officers immediately went to work.

According to Chew, a rush of adrenaline and concern for survivors buried underneath the rubble drove the SCDF's Operation Lionheart contingent to work for 72 hours, battling temperatures as low as minus 6 deg C.

A magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck south-eastern Türkiye and the north-western regions of neighbouring Syria in the early hours of 6 February.

Since the deployment, the SCDF team have been working with local and international counterparts to rescue a boy and a man from collapsed buildings.

SCDF's advance team also recovered three bodies from the rubble before another 48 officers joined them in Türkiye on 10 February with additional search-and-rescue equipment, medical supplies, and logistics support equipment.

CNA reported SCDF as saying that this was the first time two psychologists had been deployed as part of the operation, to watch over the team's mental well-being.

The United Nations expects the death toll to double in the wake of the devastating earthquake, with the death toll currently at more than 28,000.

Training in Singapore sufficient to provide assistance

According to CNA, Col Chew mentioned how the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Methodology remained the same throughout the rotation of the contingent.

While the enhanced USAR operations required additional equipment, the training the SCDF members received in Singapore was sufficient to assist earthquake-affected countries, Chew added.

Chew said the city of Kahramanmaras was primarily residential buildings with an average height of six storeys, which were structures that were familiar to the team.

According to Chew, the most crucial part of USAR operations is to locate life. When they can do that, the team can continue to save lives between the rubbles and the damages, Chew told CNA.

He also explained how the locals have been warm towards them and international organisations aiding rescue efforts, and are continually thanking them.

"Even in the midst of their grief and their sadness, they're very forthcoming and they're very strong people ... and I salute them," he added.

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