Disaster protection exercise in Berlin: alarming weaknesses exposed!

Disaster protection exercise in Berlin: alarming weaknesses exposed!

in Berlin-Lichtenberg an unannounced disaster protection exercise in a spectacular fiasco is ended! After hours of delays in the reaction to a simulated chemical accident with dozens of dead, the practical test was abruptly broken off. The authorities have uncovered serious weaknesses when using aid organizations that urgently need to be remedied.

The trainer Philipp Cachée confirmed that there were serious problems with the mobilization of voluntary services. While the emergency services were waiting for the supposed catastrophe, many alarmed rescuers failed to materialize. The exercise was overshadowed by a scandal, as disputes about the availability of the forces, which were also required for other missions, such as a football game in the second Bundesliga.

Mass attack on deceased: a scenario that shocked!

In the dramatic exercise scenario, helpers were confronted with the shocking situation of a "mass attack on deceased". In the case of an assumed chemical accident, 70 affected people should be cared for, of whom more than half should die. The use of technology for decontamination and storing corpses was also planned. The participation of the police, public prosecutor, forensic medicine and Bundeswehr was planned, but reality looked different.

The exercise was intended as a unique opportunity, since such a scenario in Germany has not been practiced for decades. Cachée emphasized that the exercise should serve to improve the operational readiness and the cooperation between the various disaster protection authorities. But the inadequate reaction and the long waiting times, while the volunteer actors were on the ground as victims, a bad light throw on the preparation and implementation of such exercises.