AL-JOUF: In a bid to prepare for special rescue operations, Al-Jouf Civil Defense conducted a successful mock earthquake drill yesterday.
“Rescuers had to, as part of the drill, retrieve several ‘dead bodies’ from under heavy debris, take ‘injured people’ to hospital and check for people under rubble,” said Capt. Ataullah Al-Ruwaily, spokesman for the Civil Defense in Al-Jouf.
Several other agencies, including the Health Department and voluntary organizations, also participated in “Operation Earth-quake,” which took place under the command of Brig. Khalaf Al-Sharan. In the mock drill, the control room of the Civil Defense swung into action after receiving a report of a tremor, measuring six on the Richter Scale, hitting a remote village in the region.
The rescue team, accompanied by doctors, set out for the location within minutes and began evacuating the “injured.” A second team looked for people trapped inside collapsed homes and under debris, the spokesman added.
In the meantime, a field control room with satellite telephones and fax machines and a field hospital were set up.
Rescue teams used advanced detection devices and diving equipment as part of the drill. Special areas were also set apart for shelters, and to house volunteers, media persons and support staff.
Meanwhile, police cordoned off the mock area and prevented curious members of the public from reaching the site. Al-Ruwaily said divers participating in the drill also managed to recover a “dead body” from a flooded pit.
“People should not be concerned as this rescue operation was a mock and does not mean that an earthquake is really going to hit the area,” he added.
Local media last month reported a mild tremor measuring 3.8 on the Richter Scale hitting several towns in three administrative divisions of Jizan, which is located far from Al-Jouf.
