The Mallorca Firefighters, the emergency service of the Consell de Mallorca, participated this morning—together with other emergency services from the Balearic Islands and the Military Emergency Unit (UME)—in a large-scale drill simulating the arrival of a DANA (isolated depression at high levels), held simultaneously across all four islands of the autonomous community.
The drill involved activating Level 2 of the special emergency plans “METEOBAL” and “INUNBAL” in the context of a simulated severe weather event affecting all islands, with a red alert from AEMET for heavy rainfall. The aim was to test inter-agency coordination, the efficiency of the 112 OnCall system, and the response capacity in complex emergencies.
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Mallorca Firefighters Take Part in a Joint Drill with Security Forces from the Balearic Islands and the UME
The exercise took place in four municipalities: Alcúdia (Mallorca), Sant Antoni de Portmany (Ibiza), Formentera, and Ferreries (Menorca). During the drill, the ES-Alert mass notification system was tested again, with alerts sent directly to citizens in the affected areas.
The Island Director of Emergencies, Joan Fornàs, stated:
“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 us to practice shifting responsibilities as an emergency evolves and to strengthen coordination and cohesion among all participating agencies.”
The Mallorca Firefighters led the coordination of the drill in Alcúdia, where fifteen personnel, including firefighters and commanding officers, took part. The full team from the Alcúdia Fire Station was involved in tasks such as water removal and transfer due to flooding, along with specialised water rescue firefighters. An Advanced Command Centre was also deployed to coordinate the efforts of all participating agencies.
The drill involved multiple simulated scenarios and types of emergencies, with the overarching goal of reinforcing coordination and unity among all organisations involved in emergency management. Throughout the simulation, procedures for activating and deactivating services were tested, along with decision-making processes for situations such as evacuating affected individuals, assisting the injured, and rescuing and transporting victims.
In addition to the Mallorca Firefighters, participants included: the Directorate General of Emergencies and Interior, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), Palma Firefighters, IBANAT, SAMU 061, local police, civil protection volunteer groups, and Maritime Rescue, among others.