Lafcarr deploys a seismic warning system in Lisbon and Cascais
Catalan company Lafcarr has won a public contract to install a public warning system for seismic emergencies in Lisbon and Cascais, Portugal. The project involves installing two sirens in the Portuguese capital and two in Cascais to improve the response to possible earthquakes and tsunamis in the Lisbon metropolitan area.
Seismic risk in Lisbon
Lisbon has a history of significant seismic activity. In 1755 the city was devastated by a tsunami, the last recorded in Europe. More recently, in January 2018, a magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck Arraiolos, 123 kilometres from the Portuguese capital. These events have prompted the authorities to deploy early warning systems to protect the public.
Seismic warning project details
The project, worth €50,000, is due to be completed in nine months. The sirens installed by Lafcarr will issue alert tones and voice messages in line with Portugal's emergency regulations. During evacuations, they can cover a radius of 1,500 to 2,000 metres, ensuring the warning reaches a wide area.
Why audible warning systems matter
Audible warning systems are considered one of the most efficient ways of alerting the public in an emergency. Unlike alerts sent to mobile phones, which can be affected when communication networks collapse during a crisis, sirens ensure immediate and effective delivery of warnings.
Lafcarr's international experience in warning systems
Based in Vilablareix (Girona), Lafcarr has 20 employees and had a turnover of €3 million in 2017. The company provides warning services at hydroelectric dams, industrial estates, petrochemical plants and power stations in Spain. It has also carried out international projects in Chile for seismic risk prevention and has worked in Portugal since 2015, collaborating with the power company EDP on dam-related projects.
For more information, see the original article in La Vanguardia: Empresa catalana instalará sistema de alerta sísmica en Lisboa
