Tenerife successfully completes volcanic eruption emergency drill
Tenerife has successfully carried out and completed the first large-scale volcanic eruption drill in Spain, confirming the island’s growing reputation as a leader in volcanic risk management.
The exercise, held in Garachico, was a complicated and highly realistic exercise involving around a thousand emergency personnel, civil protection personnel, and scientists, as well as the local population and hundreds of extras, all to prove that Tenerife has a "well-oiled machine" and a safe response that will be improved by this experience.
Every mobile phone on the island, regardless of network or country of origin, received an emergency warning, much to the surprise of many holidaymakers who weren’t aware of the drill taking place.
Cabildo president Rosa Dávila praised the coordinated effort: “The objectives have been met, and we take away valuable lessons from this experience. Today marks a milestone in emergency management, strengthening trust between island, national, and European teams. The deployment was ambitious and unprecedented, demonstrating that we can offer an effective and coordinated response to a volcanic crisis.”
The drill involved 13 complex scenarios across a 30 km² area, running from 8:00am to 2:00pm. These included mass evacuations, gas leaks, search and rescue operations, priority care for people with reduced mobility, and even the evacuation of animals. One of the key innovations tested was the ES-ALERT emergency messaging system, which sends real-time warnings directly to mobile phones.
The exercise brought together the Military, the Fire Brigade, Brifor forest firefighters, Guardia Civil, the National Police, the Canary Police, Civil Protection, the Red Cross, and local volunteers, alongside scientific bodies such as the IGN, CSIC-IGME, and Involcan. European observers and specialists also attended under the EU-MODEX programme.
Bogdan Pop, president of the EU-MODEX LOT 4 consortium, called the exercise “arduous but highly rewarding” and said it leaves teams “better prepared for the future”.
Regional Security and Emergencies councillor Blanca Pérez added: “Today we have shown that Tenerife is better prepared for emergencies of this kind. Our priority is the safety of the population, and this exercise proves our ability to react and work together.”
Residents of Garachico also played a key role, actively participating in the simulated evacuations and response exercises.
The EU-MODEX Tenerife 2025 drill is part of Europe’s wider strategy to improve cooperation and preparedness against natural risks, setting international standards for volcanic risk management.
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