The Cabildo Coordinates Social Actions for the Volcanic Risk Drill in Garachico
The meeting established lines of collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Association, the medication suppliers Cofarte and Cofares, as well as the Red Cross and the island’s Social Action area
The Cabildo of Tenerife has held a meeting with the Official Pharmaceutical Association, the medication suppliers Cofarte and Cofares, Red Cross, and the Social Action department of the corporation to coordinate and outline their intervention spaces for response exercises in the event of a volcanic risk scenario. This is linked to the upcoming drill on Friday, the 26th, as part of the EU-Modex Tenerife 2025 Week, taking place in Garachico from the 22nd to the 28th of this month.
The meeting was attended by the councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, and the island director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín, who hosted the session alongside the heads of the respective entities and the councillor for Social Action at the Cabildo, Águeda Fumero. They established the operational guidelines for various scenarios related to evacuation and shelter, as well as proposed exercises for citizen assistance.
The role of pharmacists and logistical medication suppliers in emergencies was also discussed, particularly regarding their contributions in replenishing medications that evacuees may leave behind, as well as their support in preparing medication trays for evacuated elderly individuals. Additionally, guidelines were set with the Primary Care Management to facilitate the swift replenishment of medications.
Furthermore, the Social Action department of the Cabildo expressed its readiness to provide special means for the evacuation of people with reduced mobility, alongside mobilising trained volunteers based on the simulated emergency needs, while the Red Cross will address the shelter requirements for evacuees, including those travelling with pets, among other concerns.
Key Points
The councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security, and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, stated, “The key to providing assistance to citizens in a crisis is the coordination among participating entities in an emergency. The drill this Friday in Garachico will allow us to test, alongside the Social Action area led by Águeda Fumero, our response to residents. This is no easy task; it requires the commitment of all involved to navigate future crises, not just those related to volcanic risk.”
Meanwhile, the island director of Security and Emergencies, Iván Martín, emphasised that “for the Cabildo of Tenerife, the primary goal is to ensure the safety of individuals. This exercise, which will be preceded by specialised sessions (Evacuation, Shelter, and Social Assistance and Communication and Information to the Public), aims to address potential scenarios for assistance and support. Our fundamental objective is to ensure that Tenerife is a safer island.”
A Busy Week
Throughout the week, specialised working groups will carry out sessions focusing on Evacuation, Shelter and Social Assistance, and Communication and Information to the Public, three crucial aspects for determining basic assistance protocols during any eruptive event. Additionally, an independent Scientific Committee comprising experts will evaluate their response capabilities facing volcanic risks.
Over the course of seven days, Garachico will become the undisputed meeting point for Tenerife, as residents and visitors will have the opportunity to participate daily in informative activities, prevention workshops, educational sessions, and discussions with members of the Scientific Committee, among other events.
Drill Day
Friday, the 26th of September, will mark the peak of the EU-Modex Tenerife Week concerning volcanic risk, with a volcanic eruption drill designed to test protection and assistance measures for citizens. This exercise will be as realistic as possible, involving over 1,000 participants.
Experts and emergency specialists, along with members of the State Security Forces and regional and island services, will tackle various situations, scenarios, and incidents across five distinct areas to assess their responses and evaluate their actions to identify the strengths and vulnerabilities of the system.
The exercises will include ‘Coordination and Management at the Advanced Command Post (PMA)’, ‘Protection of the Convent of San Francisco’, ‘Ammonia Leak in Cold Storage’, ‘Search for Missing Persons in a Ravine’, ‘Evacuation of Individuals with Reduced Mobility’, ‘Search and Identification’, ‘Volcanic Gases’, ‘Essential Basic Services’, ‘Evacuation of the Elderly Centre’, ‘Evacuation of Animals’, ‘Volunteering Assistance Point’, ‘Evacuation of Non-residents’, and ‘Drone Coordination’.
Moreover, results and improvement proposals for volcanic risk management will be presented, involving experts, authorities, and emergency personnel.
Activities will commence early in the morning, and at 9:00 AM, in coordination with the Government of the Canary Islands, an official alert message will be sent to the entire island population via mobile phones as part of the drill (ES.Alert).
After this, events will unfold swiftly, culminating in a simulated volcanic eruption and a continuation of fieldwork involving participants and residents engaged in various exercises and incidents in the vicinity of Garachico’s town centre, concluding around 14:00 hours.
