CPD to run earthquake simulation next week

A quarry in Gozo is the site chosen by the Civil Protection Department to hold an earthquake simulation exercise at the end of next week. The aim of the simulation is to test the department’s preparedness during real-life emergencies.

Addressing members of the media, Civil Protection Director John Rizzo explained that whilst rare, locally earthquakes are a reality. The CPD has recently benefitted from €400,000 in EU funds towards a project entitled SIMIT.

The project is run in collaboration with the CPD counterparts in Sicily, with the aim of developing a network between the two countries able to forecast, mitigate and manage seismological, hydro-geological and volcanic disasters.

In order to test the project’s workings and findings, on the 3 September at 18:00hrs CPD personnel will respond to the aftermath of a simulated quake striking the central Mediterranean area 120km South West of Malta,registering a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake will last 20 seconds, and as a consequence of this buildings collapse in Gozo and damage is reported throughout the island of Malta. Much of Malta's critical infrastructure would be damaged.

Being overwhelmed by rescue requests and the need to evacuate people whose house have collapsed, the Civil Protection Department will request the assistance of the Presidenza della Regione Siciliana-Departimento della Protezione Civile.

Gozo residents whose houses have collapsed would be evacuated to a temporary camping site at Ghajn Tuffieha. At the same time, fires break out in a number of facilities across the island and people are traped in collapsing machinery at the Grain terminal.

The SIMIT 2015 exercise will also provide a training platform for the Maltese and Sicilian civil protection department and also for NGOs providing further aid. The departments’ response times, communications, and evacuation structures will be put to the test.

Whilst inviting the general public to attend the exercise and witness the simulation, CPD Director John Rizzo said that at the simulation sites, the public has to obey police orders and respect cordoned off areas. He also explained there is no need to cause alarm and panic as all the exercise will be under control.

Rizzo expressed his gratitude towards a number of NGOs partaking in the exercise, particularly the Scouts Organisation, and also companies who have allowed the use of specific sites. These include the Grain terminal, the Gasco gas facility, the owners of the Gozo quarry and others. About 300 people will take part in the simulation.