On Friday 20 May, several Galician towns held an activation test of the public warning sirens under the Eiras Dam Emergency Plan, to make sure they work and that people recognise the sound of the Lafcarr sirens.
The drill took place at 11:30 without disrupting daily life in Fornelos de Montes, Ponte Caldelas, Soutomaior and Pontevedra. The main aim of the Eiras Dam Emergency Plan is to add to the dam's existing safety by anticipating possible problems. One of the plan's main measures is a network of five Lafcarr sirens in the area that would be affected by a dam failure.
The Directorate-General for Emergencies and the Interior, Augas de Galicia, water administration technicians, Civil Protection members and Lafcarr staff all took part in the test.
The exercise was accompanied by public information on the Plan, with a briefing session and leaflets and posters distributed at the town halls. These actions inform residents and prepare them for the measures to take in an incident, while ensuring effective coordination between authorities and companies to keep the area safe.
