Heraklion – Exercise “Minos 2024”: The nightmarish scenario of 7.2 Richter (video – photos)

The scenario of 7.2 Richter is truly nightmarish, which according to the anti-earthquake exercise “Minoas 2024” which took place today (23/4) in Heraklion and Lasithi.

With the occurrence of the earthquake, evacuations of public services, as well as local government buildings, and schools began.

(Rescuers on the job with injured citizens)

According to the scenario, the powerful earthquake caused damage and collapse of buildings, landslides, damage to water supply networks, power outages in the old city, damage to port facilities and other coastal buildings from the tsunami.

Operations were also carried out, among others, at archaeological sites where an evacuation order was given, as well as at Heraklion airport.

(Protection measures for rescuers in workplaces where they deal with emergencies)

(citizens were injured by the strong vibration)

Also scenarios of the exercise unfolded at the Linoperamato Steam Power Station where, according to the scenario, a fire broke out, there was entrapment and injuries. In addition, similar operations took place at the Aposelemi Dam, in villages and settlements of Heraklion and Lasithi.

Watch video from the mobilization in Linoperamata

Active participation in the exercise was also had by the hospitals that were on heightened alert. Private businesses also participated in the exercise, as well as hotel units, such as the Creta Maris in Hersonissos where the scenario included the extrication of a person, following an explosion and fire as well as injury to employees and guests.

241 schools and 21 nurseries with approximately 31,000 children were evacuated, as well as three elementary schools in the context of the operational exercise, a procedure was followed to evacuate schools (kindergartens, primary schools, high schools and high schools) and nurseries, as well as three Municipal buildings of Heraklion.

In Heraklion, with the coordination of the teachers and following the prescribed procedure, 241 schools and 21 nurseries with approximately 31,000 children were evacuated without problems and in an immediate time, as well as the municipal buildings of Adrogeo street, pl. Daskalogiannis and L. Sophocles Venizelou by staff and citizens.

The Mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokairinos, immediately after the evacuation of the Androgeo Street building, was at the operational center at PSKI where he participated in the meeting of the Regional Civil Protection Coordinating Body. In his statement, Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos pointed out that useful conclusions are drawn from these exercises, gaps are highlighted and the conditions for improvement are created.

It is recalled that the participation of the Municipality of Heraklion in the two-day exercise “Minoas 2024” included the provision of the Mobile Communications & Networks Unit, a van of the Municipality of Heraklion specially configured to function as a telecommunications hub and to contribute to the transmission of information between the departments that operate and control centers. He also participated by creating the telecommunications network for the whole island in collaboration with the Association of Radio Amateurs, having on hand project machinery and staff on standby, as well as with the concession of the Cultural Conference Center of Heraklion in which the operational center for all of Crete was set up.

The Deputy Mayors of Civil Protection Giorgos Karantinos, Education Antonis Perisynakis, Cleanliness, Environment & Energy Nikos Gialitakis, Technical Works Giorgos Sisamakis, Spatial Planning, Town Planning & Municipal Property Stella Archontaki – Kalogeraki and Municipal Police, Decentralization & Rural Development participated in the exercise with a special role. Manolis Hairetis, as well as General Secretary Maria Skrafnakis.

The exercise, which is the largest that has been carried out in the country, also aims to improve both emergency and crisis management plans, as well as the coordination of services and the process of gathering and evaluating information. In addition, the aim is to train all agencies, strengthen preparedness and interoperability, include volunteer groups in planning, as well as raise awareness among the population.

A scenario we all hope never comes true…

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