A devastating earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale served as the scenario for a full-scale civil protection exercise in the German Land of Baden-Württemberg from October 24 to 26, 2024.
The exercise involved 950 participants, including response teams from Austria, Greece, France, and Switzerland, alongside 12 German response teams and an EU civil protection team of six experts. Additional participants included representatives from various German authorities such as municipalities, districts, and police departments, as well as several NGOs.
Full-scale exercises in highly realistic scenarios, like “Magnitude,” are essential for enhancing countries’ response capacities and improving the coordination, preparedness, and response capabilities of agencies, emergency services, and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) during large-scale disasters.
An earthquake was chosen as a realistic scenario for Baden-Württemberg based on scientific assessments. Although the likelihood of a devastating earthquake is lower compared to countries situated on tectonic plate boundaries, Baden-Württemberg is one of the most seismically active states in the Federal Republic of Germany. Historically, earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 6, and occasionally reaching up to 7, have been recorded.
Additionally, the region's dense population and complex industrial infrastructure present significant risks in the event of a major seismic event. Cascade effects could lead to additional extreme situations, such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies, as well as severe property damage and personal injuries.
During the “Magnitude” exercise, search and rescue teams located numerous missing and displaced persons. Teams also rescued and treated injured individuals. Emergency services cleared rubble and collapsed sections of buildings using heavy equipment, while also providing power and water supplies. Funeral services and police collaborated to identify deceased persons.
The organiser of the exercise, Baden-Württemberg’s Ministry of the Interior, included an observers’ program featuring representatives from eight EU Member States, three countries participating in the UCPM, and three neighbouring countries. Magnitude was the largest exercise ever hosted in Germany under the UCPM program and the first to include response teams from Switzerland.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič attended the exercise. The EU contributed nearly €1 million, covering 85% of the costs. Professionals from across Europe collaborated to enhance disaster preparedness.
These efforts are more important than ever. As the climate crisis worsens, extreme weather events are now an almost annual occurrence across Europe and beyond. In response, we must increase our disaster preparedness on local, national, and European levels to keep pace with this ever-growing rate of disaster.
At the conclusion of the exercise, Baden-Württemberg’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Thomas Strobl, remarked, “The Magnitude exercise was a great success for Baden-Württemberg and European civil protection. The interaction between full-time and volunteer workers, as well as international, national, and Baden-Württemberg forces, was a major challenge and worked well. Problems encountered were quickly resolved together. Not everything was perfect – and that was good. Because we also find mistakes, learn, and continue to improve ourselves.”
It is also noteworthy that, aside from some minor injuries, no participants were seriously hurt during “Magnitude.”
From the KAPP call in 2023, two full-scale exercise projects were selected for funding: “Magnitude” in Germany and “FloodNorthALB” in Albania. More information about other exercises across the EU and UCPM participating states is available.
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