The Cabildo Coordinates Actions with State, Regional, Island Administrations and Essential Entities for Population Evacuation in the Garachico Drill
The Security and Emergencies Department finalised the details and necessary actions to carry out simulated evacuation exercises for the EU-Modex Tenerife Week event
The Cabildo of Tenerife held a meeting with representatives from State, regional, and island administrations, alongside various essential entities, to coordinate each entity’s role regarding the evacuation of individuals through different exercises to be conducted in the volcanic risk drill on the 26th, as part of the EU-Modex Tenerife Week 2025 in Garachico (from 22nd to 28th).
During the meeting, Iván Martín, the island director of Security and Emergencies, presided over discussions with representatives from the Government Delegation, State Ports, Maritime Navigation, Maritime Rescue and Safety (Sasemar), Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aena), the National Police, Canary Islands Ports, Tenerife Tourism, and Cabildo technicians, as well as Ashotel and the Vacation Rental Association, to coordinate a common strategy to ensure the safety of the population in the event of a social crisis resulting from a natural disaster, specifically the simulation of an eruptive event.
The meeting provided an opportunity to outline the lines of action and strategy to be followed during the general exercise organised by the island corporation, culminating on Friday with the execution of five proposed scenarios comprising a total of 13 specific exercises to test the response of the participants.
Iván Martín emphasised “the importance of focusing all efforts on ensuring the safety of individuals. It is essential that the evacuation is well-planned, as this will provide us with flexibility, strength, and conviction to confront any crisis that may arise. This way, we will have a foundation and parameters to work with that will allow us to adapt and guarantee the safety of the population. Our goal is to make Tenerife a secure island.”
A Busy Week Ahead
Throughout the week, specialised working groups will be held focusing on Evacuation, Sheltering and Social Assistance, and Communication and Information to the Public. These are three fundamental aspects necessary to establish basic assistance protocols during an eruptive episode at any of its phases. Additionally, an independent Scientific Committee composed of experts will assess their operational capabilities in relation to volcanic risk.
For seven days, Garachico will serve as the unmissable meeting point in Tenerife. Residents and visitors will have the opportunity to participate in daily educational activities, prevention workshops, and enjoy interactions with members of the Scientific Committee, amongst other events.
Drill Day
Friday, 26th September will mark the climax of the EU-Modex Tenerife Week focused on volcanic risk, featuring a simulated volcanic eruption designed to test the protective and assistance actions directed at citizens. This exercise will strive for realism and will involve over 1,000 participants.
Experts and emergency specialists, alongside members of the State Security Forces and island and regional services, will tackle various situations, exercises, and incidents within the context of five scenarios to evaluate their responses and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the system.
Exercises Overview
The exercises to be conducted will include ‘Coordination and Management in the Advanced Command Post (PMA)’, ‘Protection Exercise for the Convent of San Francisco’, ‘Ammonia Leak in Cold Storage’, ‘Search for Missing Persons in a Ravine’, ‘Evacuation of Individuals with Limited Mobility’, ‘Search and Recognition’, ‘Volcanic Gases’, ‘Essential Basic Services’, ‘Evacuation of the Senior Centre’, ‘Evacuation of Animals’, ‘Volunteer Assistance Point’, ‘Evacuation of Non-Residents’, and ‘Drone Coordination’.
Furthermore, results and proposals for improvement in volcanic risk management will be presented, featuring input from experts, authorities, and emergency personnel.
The action will commence early, and at 9:00 AM, in coordination with the Government of the Canary Islands, an official alert message regarding the drill (ES.Alert) will be sent to all mobile phones on the island.
Following this, events will accelerate and culminate in a simulated volcanic eruption, which will continue with fieldwork involving actors and residents participating in various exercises and incidents in the vicinity of Garachico’s historic centre, concluding at 2:00 PM.
