Staff Writer
THE City is better prepared for disasters after various emergency services took part in intensive disaster response training yesterday.
Simulating an emergency response to a rail disaster, City Fire and Rescue Services, South African National Defence Force, the NSRI Emergency Medical Services and the Forensic Pathology Services transformed the main road in Simon’s Town into an emergency scene.
Also taking part in the drill were Metrorail, Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Transnet and the police.
The scene was that of a train colliding with a diesel tanker en route to the Simon’s Town naval base, causing the train to catch alight. A hazardous diesel spill also formed part of the scenario.
Disaster response staff paced up and down a closed Main Road. The exercise included extinguishing fires and resuscitating patients.
The drill was to test response times of various agencies and to ascertain how the various roleplayers work together. It was also to identify any shortcomings during an emergency.
The exercise was prompted by the recent incident in Glencairn where a train caught alight, resulting in a massive vegetation fire, said Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Liezl Moodie.
“That incident made this exercise more important. Response teams from various agencies were trained and are now equipped with necessary skills to deal with future disasters,” she assured.