Preparations have been ongoing all week with the Civil Protection Department and Regione Siciliana – Dipartimento Regionale della Protezione Civile, for the earthquake simulation exercise that gets underway in Gozo tomorrow at 5.00pm and concludes on Saturday, the 5th.

The CPD said that this exercise project – SIMIT – (Italia – Malta 2007 / 2013 ) will test the operational capabilities and limits of emergency services, non-governmental organisations that work in the field of civil protection and foreign humanitarian teams.

This large-scale exercise, will involve around 300 participants, and will simulate the scenario in which Malta is hit by an earthquake magnitude 7.6, lasting 20 seconds. CPD personnel will respond to the aftermath of a simulated quake striking the central Mediterranean area 120km South West of Malta.

The base of operations for all authorities involved will be set up at the ex-heliport in Gozo. The exercise will also take place in and around the area of the Qortin quarry.

The project, which is being run in collaboration with the CPD counterparts in Sicily, is aimed at developing a network between the two countries, able to forecast, mitigate and manage seismological, hydro-geological and volcanic disasters.

Due to the overwhelming number of requests for rescue and with the need to evacuate people from damaged properties, the Civil Protection Department will request the assistance of the Presidenza della Regione Siciliana-Departimento della Protezione Civile.

The CPD will carry out the evacuation of 100 persons from Gozo to Malta, where, for 48 hours they will be housed in emergency sheltering.

The public should not be alarmed, as all the exercise will be carried out under control, the CPD said.

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