Cape Town to test disaster readiness
2013-03-08 16:44
Cape Town - The City of Cape Town will set up a fake
cruise ship accident next week as a disaster exercise, the city's disaster risk
management centre said on Friday.
"The exercise will test the preparedness and ability
of the authorities and related agencies to respond to an incident involving an
international cruise ship running aground," said spokesperson Wilfred
Solomons-Johannes.
The simulation would be between Mouille Point and Cape
Town stadium, between 07:00 and 13:00 on Tuesday.
According to the plan, code-named "Beachy", the
SAS Spioenkop, a frigate on loan from the SA Navy, would act as a cruise liner
carrying 106 passengers and crew, on a voyage around the coastline of South
Africa to Durban.
The "accident" would take place off-shore of
the Mouille Point Lighthouse, and a verification and mass-care centre would be
established at the Cape Town Stadium to assist "survivors".
"Residents living in the vicinity are alerted that
the exercise will involve a large contingent of armed forces, law enforcement
agencies and emergency and disaster management personnel," said
Solomons-Johannes.
Armed forces will be commanded by the SA National Defence
Force (SANDF) and will include the Navy, SA Air Force (SAAF) and the SA Army.
- SAPA
