SINGAPORE, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Singapore is shocked by the tragic loss of lives and serious damage caused by earthquake in Aceh province of western Indonesia, and expressed the deepest condolences, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
The ministry said the government of Singapore expressed the deepest condolences to the government of Indonesia and the families of the victims in this time of grief.
Singapore Civil Defence Force announced that two officers will be deployed to Indonesia as part of a five-men ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT), under the auspices of the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management.
The ERAT's primary function is to provide rapid assessment and determine the critical resources, such as tents, medical kits, and sanitation facilities, which are required for the areas affected by the earthquake. The two Singaporean officers will depart for Indonesia on Thursday and are expected to be there for a week.
A 6.4-magnitude quake hit Indonesia's Aceh early Wednesday, killing at least 97 people and causing massive damages.
