If you are caught in a disaster overseas, follow local evacuation or shelter instructions and use the destination’s emergency services for immediate danger. Once safe, contact your family or trip leader with your location and condition. If you need urgent consular help, contact the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission or MFA at +65 6379 8800. MFA advice during a major overseas crisis MFA general travel advice
Tell MFA which city and area you are in, where you are staying now and who is with you. Mention any injury, mobility needs or communications problems. Check current local instructions and MFA travel notices before changing routes. MFA advice during a major overseas crisis MFA general travel advice
- Follow local instructions and use local emergency services for immediate danger.
- Send one short update with your location and condition.
- Give MFA your current location and describe the help you need.
On this page
- Act on instructions for your exact area
- Send a short update and stay reachable
- Frequently asked questions
Act on instructions for your exact area
Read the time and location of each official notice. A road closure or evacuation order may affect one area of a city while another area remains open. At a hotel, school or venue, ask staff where the local authorities have directed people to go. MFA advice during a major overseas crisis
If you are supervising children, count everyone when you reach safety. Report a missing person’s last confirmed position and time to the appropriate local authorities. Keep one adult responsible for recording changes to the group’s location.
Send a short update and stay reachable
Give your current city, named shelter or hotel, who is with you and when you expect to send the next update. If you have moved away from your original accommodation, tell MFA or your designated family contact. Keep your phone charged where possible. MFA advice during a major overseas crisis MFA general travel advice
A school group example
After a local evacuation notice, the teachers follow the directed route and check that everyone is present. A designated teacher updates the school with the new location and says whether anyone needs medical care. If the group needs consular help, the caller gives MFA the same confirmed details.
Frequently asked questions
What if we were already registered with MFA?
Give your current location when requesting help. Your itinerary can help MFA contact you, and the live location tells the team where you are after any change of plan. MFA eRegister FAQs MFA advice during a major overseas crisis
What if my family cannot reach me by phone?
When a connection becomes available, send a brief update to the agreed contact. If you need urgent assistance, contact the mission or MFA’s response centre. MFA advice during a major overseas crisis