Throughout the day of 16 May 2025, complex civil protection drills were conducted across Chișinău municipality and its suburbs, aimed at practising and strengthening the response capabilities of management bodies and civil protection forces in the event of large-scale emergencies.

The scenario included a powerful earthquake resulting in multiple consequences: building collapses, fires, road and railway accidents with numerous casualties, communication and power outages, and leaks of toxic substances.

To manage the situation, the Emergency Situations Commission of Chișinău municipality was convened, coordinating all emergency services and civil protection units.

At the National Hotel, rescue and extrication operations, victim evacuation, fire suppression, first medical aid and psychological support were simulated.

In the town of Vatra, near Ghidighici Lake, teams carried out dyke reinforcement, population notification and evacuation from flood-risk areas, and protection of material assets.

Another scenario addressed the aftermath of a railway accident involving toxic substance leaks, with municipal and facility-based units, firefighters, medics and police performing containment, leak stoppage and victim rescue operations.

At Sfânta Treime Municipal Clinical Hospital, hospital-level medical triage was simulated for mass casualty reception following the earthquake.

In total, the drills involved 387 participants and 62 units of special equipment.

It should be noted that the last complex drill of this scale in Chișinău took place in 2016. Today’s exercise is the fourth organized in 2025, in accordance with Government Decision No. 850/2024 and the national civil protection preparedness calendar plan.

Such drills are held once every five years in each district/municipality with the overall objective of raising the level of preparedness for effective actions in emergency situations.