Civil Defense Exercises in Northern Cyprus: Practicing Earthquake Response

Near Mackenzie Beach, close to Iskele, large-scale disaster management and emergency response exercises were conducted, organized by the Civil Defense Organization. The scenario of the 2025 Civil Defense Disaster Management and Response Exercise involved simulating the aftermath of a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake, with the epicenter located in Famagusta Bay at a depth of 4.5 kilometers.

The main goal of the event was to test emergency preparedness, practice coordination between different services, and minimize potential losses among the population and infrastructure. Participants included representatives from the ministries of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, high-ranking military officials, members of parliament, mayors, rescue teams, and civilian volunteers.

Hakan Balaban, Director of the Civil Defense Organization, noted that the training aimed to assess earthquake readiness and enhance coordination between agencies. He emphasized that the risk of natural and meteorological disasters is increasing both globally and locally, making proactive measures crucial for reducing damage. Balaban also recalled the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, highlighting the importance of preparedness and expressing condolences to the victims of that tragedy.

Iskele District Governor Ertuğrul Toroslu stressed that civil defense is primarily about protecting the human right to life through awareness, responsibility, and readiness for natural disasters.

During the exercises, teams demonstrated a wide range of actions: search and rescue operations, first aid, firefighting, evacuation of the population, mitigation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats (CBRN), as well as maritime rescue operations.

The event involved civil defense units, ministries of the TRNC, the Turkish Gendarmerie Command, AFAD, KTBK, GKK, as well as local rescue associations and university clubs under the auspices of the International University Search and Rescue Council (IUSARC).

After the exercises, officials inspected the rescue equipment exhibition, visited mobile units and tent camps, and concluded the maneuvers, noting a high level of preparedness and the importance of interagency cooperation in the event of major natural disasters.