National civil defense exercises held across Venezuela
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Venezuela has staged nationwide civil defense drills, with military, police, and civilians training for disaster response and defense.
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Civil protection workers prepare to climb an abandoned, unfinished skyscraper known as 'The Tower of David', a day after a powerful earthquake in Caracas, Venezuela, in August 2018. (AP)
Venezuela held nationwide civil defense exercises this week, mobilizing armed forces, police, firefighters, and local authorities to boost disaster preparedness and defense readiness.
“The national exercise on civil defense and preparation of the population, together with military and police forces to struggle for peace and life, began in all 24 states and the capital,” President Nicolas Maduro announced on state television, according to TASS.
Governors, mayors, and political leaders joined the effort, which aims to train civilians in disaster relief and defense measures during emergencies or conflict.
The drills follow a series of strong earthquakes in western Venezuela, with magnitudes of 6.2, 6.3, and 5.8, as well as 27 aftershocks measuring up to 4.0.
'The prepared people are indestructible people': Maduro
This comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called for a National Drill of Civil Protection and People’s Preparedness to prepare the population for natural disasters or potential armed conflicts.
The Venezuelan president announced the drill during a Communal Power event in the state of Miranda, where he emphasized the importance of a civic-military union, all to strengthen national resilience.
The head of state explained that the drill will involve Civil Protection, Firefighters, the Bolivarian National Police, state police, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), along with schools, high schools, hospitals, and health centers.
“I want to summon all the people, in perfect popular-military-police union, for a National Civil Protection Drill in the face of natural disasters or any armed conflict that may occur,” Maduro stated.
The exercise is organized in response to the seismic events recorded on September 24 in Venezuela, which President Maduro attributed to a "swarm of seismic faults" in South America and which the Venezuelan Foundation for Seismological Research (Funvisis) reported had exceeded a magnitude of six points on the Richter scale.
“We are going to increase this day of civil protection to activate the protection plans that Venezuela has to protect our people in any unwanted situation,” said the Bolivarian president.
The head of state urged those with first aid knowledge to contribute to the day while calling for the population's massive participation, stating, "The prepared people are indestructible people, that is the slogan."
