Tsunami Warning Sirens to Sound Again in Lisbon as Army Conducts Major Emergency Drill

Between November 17th and 21st, in the Belém area, tests will be underway to evaluate the response capacity of the capital in the event of potential natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis.

These tests are part of the mega-exercise FENIX 25, a large-scale operation led by the Portuguese Army, expected to be a rigorous and vital test of the country's readiness for these potentially devastating scenarios.

Photos by © CML

Objective: Train and Evaluate

The focus of these exercises is not on the probability of the event, but on the effectiveness of the response, with the ultimate goal being very clear: train and evaluate the capacity of the Integrated Military Emergency Support System (SIAME) to support Civil Protection under disaster conditions.

To achieve this, an impressive contingent of about 300 personnel and 100 vehicles is being mobilized, turning key points in Lisbon into intensive training grounds, in an operation so complex that it will mirror the reality of a disaster of this magnitude. Some of the locations where these operations are taking place include:

• Telheiras (urban search and rescue)
  • Simulations of searches in complex structures and rescue in completely collapsed buildings. Emphasis is placed on extracting victims in high-risk environments.

• Belém (tsunami alert)
  • Test of the Municipal Tsunami Warning and Alert System, with real activation of a siren on the waterfront and associated awareness actions highlighting the maritime danger post-earthquake.

• Monsanto (rescue in natural environments and accidents)
  • Tests of high-angle rescue (difficult-to-access areas), open-area search and simulation of mass road collisions, which inevitably accompany post-earthquake chaos.

Full Involvement of All Authority Forces

Several entities are participating in these tests for response to potential natural disasters in the city, including the Lisbon City Council, the Municipal Civil Protection Service, the Firefighters Sappers Regiment, and the Municipal Police, ensuring that the simulations cover all aspects of urban crisis management, immediate relief, and public safety maintenance.

These simulations begin today, November 17th, at 1 PM, and although not "open" to the public, they serve as a preventive warning to all citizens, who are always the first line of defense.

It is also noteworthy that the success of these tests will not be measured solely by the smoothness of military procedures, but by the robustness and swift, effective response of the entire national system when faced with one of these potentially destructive scenarios.