Fake earthquake hits Santomera Murcia

Fake earthquake hits Santomera Murcia
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By h.b. - Feb 19, 2010 - 6:53 AM

Part of the exercise - EFE

An emergency exercise saw the participation of more than 500 people on Thursday

500 people on Thursday took part in an earthquake disaster simulation based in Santomera, Murcia. The exercise, the largest ever of its type in Spain, saw rockfalls and also faced a breakdown in communications after the 5,5 degree quake. A new satellite communications system was therefore tested.

The exercise was concentrated from 8am on Thursday in the area close to the Santomera reservoir, and Emergency Director, Luis Gestoso, told the press that the day served also to show the population how they should act in such an emergency. He noted that a large number of the 16,000 residents of the town had taken part in the day’s proceedings.

500 firemen and other rescue workers, health workers, local police and Civil Guard all participated, along with members of Civil Protection and the Military Emergency unit who set up a tent hospital.

The region did see a real quake, measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale in January 2005, while the biggest tremor to be recorded in Spain was in Torrevieja, Alicante in 1829, which measured 6.9 and saw 400 deaths.
Another at Arenas del Rey in Granada on Christmas Day 1884 measured 6.7 and resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities.

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