Rui Luís emphasises relevance of rescue mechanisms available in the Azores in case of natural disaster
The Regional Secretary for Health stated in Ribeira Quente, São Miguel Island, the availability and readiness of rescue mechanisms to assist the Azorean population in case of catastrophe.
"We are constantly encouraging cooperation among various entities and we are confident in the existing protection mechanisms in the Azores," said Rui Luís. He spoke on the sidelines of Açor18 drill, an initiative coordinated by the Azores Operational Command.
The drill is aimed at the joint operational training of assistance teams and the use of rescue and relief equipment available in the archipelago in response to a seismic crisis situation.
In addition to the three branches of Armed Forces, the Açor18 drill also involves the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA). It is primarily intended to test cooperation among the agents involved.
Rui Luís pointed out that the choice of Ribeira Quente for this drill by the Azores Operational Command was crucial to simulate the scenario of an isolated population, which included an Evacuation Collection Point.
The drill involved about one hundred armed forces and civil protection personnel, an EH101 helicopter, a Portuguese Air Force C295 aircraft and a Navy Corvette.
The Açor18 is the second drill in a seismic crisis scenario taking place in the Region within a week. In this regard, Rui Luís highlighted the efficiency of the telecommunications network of SRPCBA and the role of radio amateurs in this type of drill.
"As for the Bull18 drill, we had the opportunity to test Civil Protection telecommunications network. It has proved to be a good network insofar as it has already received an international award for the way it was implemented in the Azores," said the Regional Secretary.