Austria’s largest disaster-response exercise concludes in Carinthia

Austria’s largest disaster-response exercise concludes on Sunday in Diex after three days involving more than 3,000 emergency workers across all of Carinthia’s districts, ORF reported. The exercise was based on a magnitude 8.5 earthquake in the Rosental.

The final day began at 7 a.m. in Diex, where teams were due to work through scenarios at a school and a parish house, said Christian Gamsler, Carinthia’s disaster-protection coordinator.

Gamsler said communication was crucial. Over the previous two days, district authorities and emergency organisations had tested how they work together. In a disaster, he said, it can be difficult to obtain information quickly and reliably.

Organisers initially planned for 2,500 participants, but interest from municipalities and media coverage helped raise turnout to nearly 3,000, Gamsler said. District authorities developed their own scenarios without instructions from the state government, an approach he said set new standards for disaster preparedness. He also hopes the exercise will encourage more people to volunteer, including with organisations such as the fire service.