The drills are taking place in Geneva, Epeisses and Payerne, with Swiss services and teams from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
Swiss civil-protection services and the army are training with teams from the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to respond to a major earthquake. The exercise began on Tuesday at sites in Epeisses, Geneva and Payerne military airfield, Swiss broadcaster SRF reported.
In Epeisses, responders are practising searches for people trapped in collapsed buildings, breaking concrete and creating access routes for search dogs. At Payerne, participants are installing a mobile air-surveillance system. The scenario assumes the disaster quickly overwhelms Switzerland’s capacity, prompting the federal government to request EU assistance.
Rescue teams from Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria and Armenia are taking part. It is the first time Switzerland has hosted a joint exercise with European rescuers on its territory. Switzerland has already taken part in five exercises in EU countries this year, including Denmark, Portugal and Poland, with scenarios involving major explosions, wildfires and floods.
Exercise co-director Rebecca Dinkelbach told SRF that no country could handle a major earthquake disaster alone. International help was also offered after the fire disaster in Crans-Montana: EU rescuers helped transport victims and provide medical care.
Switzerland wants to become an active member of the EU mechanism. Anja Zbinden of the Federal Office for Civil Protection said cooperation already worked well and that Bern and Brussels were discussing the country’s participation. EU membership is not required: alongside the bloc’s 27 members, ten other countries take part, including Norway, Iceland and Türkiye.
The drills in Geneva and Payerne will continue through Thursday, with responders working day and night. The scenario includes an aftershock intended to further challenge rescue teams.