SINGAPORE : Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) contingent to China has ended its search and rescue operations in Hongbai Town.

The 55-member team will be back in Singapore in two batches.

The first 39 rescuers will arrive via military aircraft at Paya Lebar Airbase on Thursday.

The other 16 rescuers will return on Friday night on a commercial flight.

The team had been based in Hongbai Township in Shifang city since arriving on May 16.

Over the last four days, SCDF's rescuers conducted search operations at more than a dozen sites of collapsed buildings. Five bodies were extricated.

SCDF's contingent is one of only four foreign rescue teams that China allowed into the country to assist with the search and rescue efforts. - CNA/ls/ms