El Salvador prepares for a national earthquake response drill

El Salvador's Civil Protection scheduled the National Earthquake Drill for October 15 at 10:00 a.m. (Courtesy: Civil Protection) El Salvador's General Directorate of Civil Protection reminded public institutions, businesses, educational centers, community organizations, and the public of the 2026 National Earthquake Preparedness and Response Drill, scheduled for next October 15 at 10:00 a.m. (local time). Under the slogan "Prepared, we respond better," Civil Protection seeks for participants to activate and evaluate their emergency plans, evacuation routes, internal communication systems, and brigade organization. The event will have national scope and will involve entities of the Executive Branch, municipalities, the private sector, universities, schools, humanitarian organizations, and communities. The call takes on relevance following the earthquakes recently recorded in the region. The most recent one occurred in Panama. The drill will test evacuation routes and the response of emergency brigades throughout the country. (Courtesy: Civil Protection) The scenario planned for the drill contemplates an earthquake of magnitude 8.0, with a focal depth of 17 kilometers and an estimated duration of 50 seconds. The fictitious epicenter will be located off the coast of the department of La Libertad, according to information released by Civil Protection. The simulation foresees structural damage, interruptions of basic services, small fires, simulated victims, and mass evacuations in public buildings, businesses, educational centers, and other places where people gather. Institutions must put into practice their protocols to react during and after the tremor. The exercise will make it possible to verify whether exit routes are identified, whether meeting points are adequate, and whether the brigades have defined roles. It will also evaluate the coordination among authorities, health services, water, energy, and telecommunications providers, transportation, and the media. Civil Protection indicated that the activity is part of the national preparedness for high-magnitude seismic events and of the update of the National Earthquake Contingency Plan. The purpose is to detect operational failures and obtain information to adjust protocols, institutional plans, and response procedures. The call includes schools, universities, municipalities, public entities, and the private sector. (Courtesy: Press Secretariat) Among the objectives of the drill is the evaluation of institutional emergency plans and school protection plans. In addition, the performance of community and business brigades will be verified, as well as the fluidity of communications among the institutions that make up the National Civil Protection System. The activity also contemplates accessibility measures for people with disabilities, the elderly, children, and other groups that may require assistance during an evacuation. Each institution must consider these factors when organizing its procedures and assigning responsibilities. The entity recalled that El Salvador is exposed to natural and anthropogenic hazards, including earthquakes, intense rains, and incidents that can affect infrastructure and essential services. The earthquakes of 1986 and 2001 are part of the background that supports the need to keep plans updated and conduct periodic exercises. Civil Protection invited public and private organizations to register their institution or business and join the National Earthquake Drill. The call extends to all sectors, with priority for essential services, such as health, water and sanitation, energy, telecommunications, transportation, and critical infrastructure.