Chaos in Lichtenberg: Disaster protection exercise without rescue workers!

Chaos in Lichtenberg: Disaster protection exercise without rescue workers!

Stand: 04.11.2024 4:24 pm

In a dramatic civil protection exercise in Berlin-Lichtenberg there was a massive misunderstanding! In the simulation of a chemical accident, in which around 70 injuries and even fatalities were to be complained about, extras for hours, which simply did not come. Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD) is now required to process the chaotic circumstances and ensure that such breakdowns will be avoided in the future.

The exercise that took place on Saturday was abruptly broken off because the responsible rescue workers were not informed. On site, the aid organizations' deployments decided on the basis of other obligations not to send any other teams. However, Spranger emphasized that there would have been enough helpers in an emergency. "If that had been an emergency, everyone would have been there immediately," she told the Rbb.

Responsibility and reform needs

Spranger made it clear that the responsibility for such exercises lies with the district and that the districts are obliged to make these exercises. However, she did not want to blame the disaster protection officer Philipp Chachée von Lichtenberg for the debacle. "We have to discuss whether the exercises of this size have to take place," said Spranger. The new disaster protection center, which is scheduled to start operating on January 1, 2025, could help to fix years of neglect in civil protection.

The breakdown has definitely shown a clear need for action. The Berlin authorities now urgently have to clarify how communication between the organizations can be improved in order to be better prepared in an emergency