PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) – As part of the National Civil Protection Day on September 19, the second national drill of the year was conducted with two different earthquake scenarios. The exercise included a 7.2-magnitude earthquake with a hypocenter northeast of Chapala and an 8.0-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Acapulco.
The regional command of the State Civil Protection and Firefighters Unit orchestrated the entire exercise based on the 7.2-magnitude quake, envisioning a depth of 15 km and a hypocenter in the Sierra del Travesaño, 10 kilometers northwest of Chapala.
In contrast, the Directorate of Civil Protection and Firefighters in Puerto Vallarta chose the 8.0-magnitude earthquake scenario with its epicenter in Acapulco, having a depth of 52 kilometers.
Both organizations commenced civil protection exercises simultaneously at 11:00 a.m., per the national stipulation. Evacuation protocols were implemented in various establishments, including public and private buildings, schools, hotels, and businesses in Puerto Vallarta. These efforts were part of the larger macro-simulation taking place across the city.
Significantly, the Municipal Presidency and the Municipal Administrative Unit (UMA) saw the debut of their newly acquired seismic alarms. While these alarms startled visiting citizens, municipal employees were unsurprised, as tests had been conducted the previous week.
Early reports from the Civil Protection Directorate confirm the drill’s success. At the UMA, over 600 individuals were safely evacuated in just 4 minutes and 36 seconds without any injuries.
The ninth command of the State Civil Protection and Firefighters Unit, responsible for the coastal-mountain region exercise in Puerto Vallarta, proudly reported improved evacuation timings: Over 200 individuals from UNIRSE were evacuated in three minutes, and 62 people from the DRSE building were evacuated in two minutes and 50 seconds. Although no injuries were reported, one individual experienced a nervous breakdown but received immediate medical attention.
The UEPCB, coordinating these exercises, had anticipated that the hypothetical earthquake would majorly impact the State’s Central Region with varying intensities. This ranged from “severe” in certain regions, like Altos Sur and Ciénega, to “light and weak” in the South and North regions.
It is important to note that these drills are obligatory for all sectors based on articles 45 and 46 of the State Civil Protection Law. Participants receive certificates of participation if registered in advance.
As of 1:00 p.m., the number of institutions that partook in the second national drill in Puerto Vallarta remains unconfirmed. All records and reports are directly conveyed to the UEPC in Guadalajara.
