A 32-member Home Team contingent comprising 14 officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), 3 victim recovery dogs from the SPF K9 Unit, and 18 Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers, departed for Laos on a Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 transport aircraft from Paya Lebar Air Base on Monday (13 August).
In a Facebook post on Monday, SCDF stated that the SCDF officers, led by CPT Kannan Selvaraj, will replace the current 17-member SCDF team which has been carrying out disaster relief efforts in Attapeu Province since 4 August.
A hydropower dam in the Attapeu province collapsed late on 23 July night, which caused sever floods in the area. Laos News Agency reported that the accident in the San Sai district of the southeastern province of Attapeu released 5,000 million cubic metres of water, or more than two million Olympic swimming pools.
According to local news, at least 27 people died, with hundreds more missing and another 6,600 people were displaced.
Meanwhile, the Home Team contingent have touched down safely at Pakse International Airport.
In a Facebook post, Singapore Police Force (SPF) stated that the officers were received by Singapore’s Ambassador to Laos, Mr Dominic Goh.
According to the authority, the contingent, with their equipment and supplies, is now on their way to Attapeu province.
Everyone is ready to serve in this overseas mission, it added.
