The exercise simulated the arrival of a DANA and was conducted across all four islands.
The Mallorca Firefighters, the emergency service of the Consell de Mallorca, participated this morning, along with the other emergency bodies of the Balearic Islands and the Military Emergency Unit (UME)—in a drill simulating the arrival of a DANA (isolated depression at high levels). The exercise took place simultaneously on all four islands of the Autonomous Community.
The drill involved activating Level 2 of the special emergency plans “METEOBAL” and “INUNBAL” within the framework of a simulated severe weather scenario across the islands, with a red warning from AEMET due to heavy rainfall. The goal was to test inter-institutional coordination, the efficiency of the 112 OnCall system, and the response capacity in complex emergency scenarios.
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Mallorca Firefighters Take Part in a Drill with Security Forces from the Balearic Islands and the Military Emergency Unit (UME)
The exercise was carried out in four municipalities: Alcúdia (Mallorca), Sant Antoni de Portmany (Ibiza), Formentera, and Ferreries (Menorca). During the drill, a new test of the ES-Alert mass alert system was conducted, with notifications sent to the citizens of the affected municipalities.
The Island Director of Emergencies, Joan Fornàs, stated that “with this type of drill, we can assess in advance whether the decisions and actions taken are effective, with the ultimate goal of improving preparedness and emergency response. It also allows for the practice of shifting responsibilities as an emergency evolves and reinforces the coordination and cohesion of all agencies involved.”
The Mallorca Firefighters coordinated a drill in Alcúdia, which involved fifteen personnel, including firefighters and commanding officers. The full team from the Alcúdia Fire Station was engaged in water drainage and transfer operations due to flooding, along with specialised water rescue firefighters. Additionally, the Advanced Command Centre was deployed to coordinate the various agencies participating in the drill.
The simulation, which took place across several scenarios and included different types of emergencies, aimed to strengthen coordination and cohesion among all agencies involved in emergency response. Throughout the drill, procedures for activating and deactivating various services and units were practised, and decisions were made regarding scenarios such as evacuating affected individuals, providing medical assistance to the injured, and rescuing and transporting victims.
In addition to the Mallorca Firefighters, the drill included participation from the Directorate General for Emergencies and Interior, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), Palma Firefighters, IBANAT, SAMU 061, local police forces, civil protection volunteer groups, and Maritime Rescue, among others.