Tenerife will hold large-scale exercises in preparation for a volcanic eruption.
Tenerife will conduct large-scale exercises to prepare for a volcanic eruption, including evacuation and sending warnings to residents' phones.
Attention, residents of Tenerife! On Friday, September 26, at 9 a.m., you will receive a message about a volcanic eruption on your phones. Don't worry, it's just a drill! This is the first time such a thing is being done in the Canary Islands.
From September 22 to 26, Tenerife will be tested on how ready the island is for a volcanic eruption. The most interesting part will be on Friday, September 26, when everyone will receive a "volcanic" warning.
More than a thousand rescuers, volcanologists, and ordinary residents will participate in the exercises. Even some people will be evacuated from the historical center of Garachico, which will be "flooded with lava." It was in Garachico that there was once a very strong eruption that everyone remembers.
The eruption of the Trevejo volcano in 1706 hit people's lives and the economy the most. Back then, lava destroyed fields, houses, important places, and a large part of the port of Tenerife. Fortunately, no people died, but there was a lot of damage.
The authorities want to recreate all stages of the eruption to see how the rescue services and people react. This way, they will understand what needs to be improved on the island, where a volcano can wake up at any time. Although there is no risk now.
From Monday, September 22, Tenerife will begin to simulate an increase in the level of danger. Volcanologists will closely monitor the situation and coordinate actions. And on Friday, September 26, the most interesting thing will happen – a warning about the eruption and evacuation.
Rosa Davila, the head of the local government, assured that all residents of Tenerife will receive the message. Roads in Garachico will also be closed, and everything will be done as in a real eruption.
According to Davila, these will be the largest eruption preparedness exercises in the Canary Islands and Spain.
The authorities are doing everything to ensure that Tenerife is ready for any "surprises" from the volcano.
"We want people to know what to do if the volcano wakes up. After all, we live next to it," emphasized Rosa Davila.
Since 2017, earthquakes have become more frequent in Tenerife, especially under Teide. Therefore, the authorities are developing action plans for emergency situations. Special attention is paid to cities that are at risk: Guía de Isora, Garachico, Santiago del Teide, and El Tanque. Lectures are also held for the population, and maps with different scenarios are updated.
Scientists from the National Geographic Institute (IGN) and the Volcanological Institute of the Canary Islands (Involcan) are closely monitoring the volcano. Pharmacies and psychologists are also ready to help people if needed.
Preparation for the exercises will begin on Monday with lectures for residents of Garachico, who will be evacuated on Friday. After that, lectures on the dangers of volcanoes will be held in all 30 municipalities of Tenerife. So, almost a million residents of the island will be aware of what to do in the event of an eruption.