Contingency plan concluded hours before Monday's tremor!

The Civil Protection Department concluded a draft earthquake contingency plan last Monday, ironically just a few hours before the strongest tremor in 30 years shook Malta.

The plan is expected to be officially approved by the CPD council in the coming days, department head Peter Cordina told The Times yesterday.

Last Monday's tremor, which measured nearly four on the Richter Scale, injured no one and caused no structural damage but triggered off questions about whether the authorities had the resources and the know-how to deal with a potential disaster of this nature.

Mr Cordina said the authorities were geared to cope with disasters, even if few could predict the effects of a force of nature.

Malta lies in the middle of an extensive fault system and earthquakes below the seabed are fairly common. The island is however not located on what is known as the plate boundary, an area most susceptible to earthquakes.

The scope of the emergency response plan is to lay down the actions which are to be taken by the CPD, the police, the Armed Forces and NGOs, such as the Red Cross Society, in the eventuality of an earthquake.

It explains the immediate steps to be taken in case of a tremor, includes instructions on locating any possible victims trapped in rubble and lists how the authorities will constantly keep in touch with the media.

The role of the CPD is to prepare contingency plans for man-made or natural disasters and to coordinate the operation of all entities.

The CPD has contingency plans for floods and fireworks factory/gas plant explosions.

Mr Cordina said the CPD decided to draw up the contingency plan for earthquakes following a number of tremors in the Mediterranean but especially after the devastating tremor which jolted Algeria in May.

The plan lists a series of actions and precautions to take before, during and after an earthquake.

The draft document says that the most dangerous thing one can do during an earthquake is to try to leave a building since objects may fall and cause injury.

People who are outdoors should move away from buildings, street lights and utility wires, and if in a moving vehicle, to stop quickly and stay in the vehicle.

The document cautions people to be prepared for aftershocks which cause additional damage and may bring weakened structures down.

The CPD's staff complement of 105 has been trained to deal with all kinds of disasters. They are complemented by a number of trauma psychologists entrusted with trying to calm down any victims.

Mr Cordina said that as an EU acceding country, as from January 1, Malta now automatically formed part of an international rescue agreement through which neighbouring EU countries would offer immediate help in case of disaster.