In Banjaluka today, a methodical and demonstrative rescue exercise in the event of a devastating earthquake was carried out, organized by the Department for Civil Protection Affairs and the Professional Territorial Fire and Rescue Unit of Banjaluka, on the occasion of commemorating the 54th anniversary of the earthquake that struck this city on October 27, 1969.
This exercise, which is carried out in the courtyard of Gimazija in Banja Luka, symbolically began at 9:11 a.m., when the earthquake occurred.
Dragan Babić, head of the Department for Civil Protection Affairs and the Professional Territorial Fire and Rescue Unit, emphasized that even after 54 years, one should be careful and focus especially on preventive activities.
Babić told journalists that during the exercise, a number of procedural matters in the event of an earthquake were demonstrated.
“This demonstration exercise shows the proper way and way to act in such situations. We recorded that mistakes occur in schools, if demonstration exercises are not done properly, and we could see that when there was an earthquake in Petrinja,” stated Babić.
He added that it was then that there was a panic, which needs to be reduced to a minimum.
“We need to think soberly and evacuate our students as soon as possible in such situations,” Babić emphasized.
He added that in the following days these preventive activities will also be held in Banja Luka kindergartens.
“We will continue equipping schools with all the things needed for timely and preventive action in the event of an earthquake,” Babić added.
Director of the Banjaluka Health Center Nevena Todorović pointed out that four teams from the Banja Luka Health Center and the Emergency Medical Service took part in the tactical-demonstration exercise, performed with the students of the Banja Luka High School and members of the Civil Protection, and that the preparation for this exercise took a long period of time.
“Our medical teams have all the necessary equipment to take care of people injured in mass accidents,” said Todorović.
She added that all the teams showed their readiness to react in the circumstances of saving and protecting human lives, stressing that it is important to continuously work on the acquisition of equipment, training and other measures so that the teams are ready in case of need to react in an adequate way.
Director of the Banja Luka High School, Vita Malešević, said that the exercise is held at this school, because there is symbolism, and that every year the students of the High School undergo training on how to act in the event of an accident.
“We all know that the Gymnasium was destroyed in an earthquake in 1969, and then the students had to go to other schools and other cities. This year, we from the Gymnasium are showing that we are ready to get out of the most difficult events,” said Malešević.
She said that the demonstration exercise showed how to get 1,300 students and teachers out of the school building and how to carry out an evacuation.
In this simulation, in addition to the students of the Civil Protection Department and the Professional Territorial Fire and Rescue Unit of Banjaluka and the Banja Luka High School, members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republika Srpska, the Republic Administration of Civil Protection of the RS, the Helicopter Service of the RS, the Banjaluka Health Center, the City Organization of Red cross and the Mountain Rescue Service of Banja Luka.
In commemoration of the devastating earthquake that hit Banjaluka on this day in 1969, today at 9:11 a.m. the sirens of the city’s notification and warning system sounded for 60 seconds.
Banjaluka was hit by a catastrophic earthquake 54 years ago, which left behind devastation, 15 people lost their lives, and 1,117 were slightly or seriously injured.
The city was devastated, and enormous material damage was caused to 86,000 housing units, 266 school buildings, 152 public administration and administration buildings, 146 cultural institutions, 133 health facilities and 29 social institutions, Srna reports.
photo: Srna
