Tourists on the Greek island of Crete were unaware that they were participating in a mock earthquake drill when they rushed to evacuate their hotels. The drill, named ‘Minoas’ after the mythical Cretan Bronze Age king, was designed to prepare for real earthquakes. Emergency text messages alerted people on the island to the impending mock earthquake, which measured 7.2 off the coast of Heraklion. Tourists quickly evacuated their hotels, while workers in vests provided first aid to an injured woman in a tent. British tourist Leah Pickles expressed her approval of the drill, stating that it would help them know what to do in a real-life situation. The drill took place just six days after a real quake measuring 3.8 hit the island’s southwestern coast. Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias emphasized the importance of preparedness, saying, ‘We must be prepared for all scenarios. While we hope it’s never necessary, we must conduct real exercises involving all stakeholders to enhance our readiness.’ Many people shared their experiences on social media following the drill.
Greece sits on multiple fault lines and is frequently affected by earthquakes. Although tremors have not caused severe fatalities or damage since the 1999 earthquake near Athens, the Mediterranean country has faced other emergencies in recent years, such as wildfires and floods. Last summer, a wildfire on Rhodes consumed vast areas of land and necessitated the evacuation of 19,000 tourists and locals. In the Evros province in the north, Europe’s deadliest blaze killed at least 20 people and destroyed an area larger than New York City. On Tuesday, a wildfire near the city of Chania in western Crete forced the evacuation of part of a naval base and adjacent schools. A fire brigade official later reported that the blaze had subsided.
