Today, Friday 11th October, at 5 pm, residents of the Campania Region will receive a IT-Alert Test message on their mobile phones as part of the “Exe Flegrei 2024” exercise.
The National Civil Protection Service will conduct this test, simulating volcanic activity and activating the IT-alert system for the first time in this scenario.
The test message will read:
TEST TEST Campi Flegrei Exercise 2024. This is a TEST message IT-alert. A SIMULATION of possible volcanic activity in Campi Flegrei is underway. To learn more about the message you would receive in case of real danger and to complete the questionnaire, visit www.it-alert.gov.it/en. TEST TEST
Due to the overshooting phenomenon, users in neighbouring regions may also receive the message.
For more details on the exercise, visit www.protezionecivile.gov.it/en
Different stages of the tests
The exercise will take place as part of the sixth edition of National Civil Protection Week and aims to involve the population in testing the National Plan for Volcanic Risk in the Campi Flegrei area. Specifically, the evacuation of residents from the towns in the red zone will be tested: Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Monte di Procida, Quarto, part of Marano, a small area of Giugliano in Campania, and some districts of Naples (Bagnoli, Fuorigrotta, Pianura, Soccavo, Posillipo, Chiaia, part of Arenella, Vomero, Chiaiano, and San Ferdinando).
The “Exe Flegrei 2024” exercise will include activities related to health protection—through verification of the procedures outlined in the Campania Region’s Sectoral Health Plan for the Campi Flegrei area—and the safeguarding of cultural heritage, such as the removal and securing of historical and artistic objects housed at the Baia Castle site (in Bacoli).
Test of monitoring of alert status
On Wednesday, the exercise scenario simulated changes in monitoring parameters and the occurrence of phenomena that could trigger a possible shift from the volcano’s current yellow alert status to an orange alert level. The first day involved monitoring and evaluation activities by the Department’s Competence Centres, simulating changes in some of the volcano’s parameters.
On Thursday, 10th October, the National Commission for the Forecasting and Prevention of Major Risks – Volcanic Risk Sector (CGR-SRV) met in an extraordinary session. Following the meeting, a simulated transition to the orange alert level took place, along with the gradual activation of the National Civil Protection System.
This included the simulated declaration of a state of emergency by the Prime Minister and the initiation of the pre-alert operational phase. At the Department’s headquarters in Rome, the Civil Protection Operational Committee convened in its highest response configuration.
Today, the IT Alert message will be sent, as outlined above.
Simulated evacuation
Tomorrow, Saturday 12th October, will focus on activating the evacuation plan for the red zone population and their reception in the twin Regions and Autonomous Provinces. The plan stipulates that upon the declaration of “alarm,” the entire population must leave the red zone, either autonomously or with assistance. The total estimated time for this operation is 72 hours (3 days), broken down as follows:
- The first 12 hours to allow people to prepare and implement necessary traffic control measures.
- The next 48 hours for the staggered yet simultaneous departure of the population from all red zone municipalities, according to a schedule set in the municipal plans.
- The final 12 hours serve as a safety margin for managing any critical issues and allowing Civil Protection operators to evacuate.
Starting at 9 am, the exercise will simulate an actual assisted evacuation of a sample population from the 7 municipalities in the red zone, with voluntary participation. Citizens will reach the designated waiting areas outlined in the municipal plans and, from there, be transferred by Campania Region-provided transport to the meeting points, where they will be registered before being transferred to the twin Regions.
Afterward, participants will be taken by bus to their respective departure waiting areas. All exercise activities will conclude at 1 pm on Saturday.
Why is there an IT-Alert Test?
This test is crucial due to the recent increase in volcanic activity in the Campi Flegrei area. The region has experienced heightened seismic movements and ground deformation, prompting scientists to raise concerns about the potential for future eruptions.
Campi Flegrei, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, poses a serious threat to nearby communities, including the densely populated city of Naples.
The IT-alert system, operational since February 13, 2024, will quickly notify residents of volcanic risks and other emergencies. The “Exe Flegrei 2024” exercise, running from October 9 to October 12, tests the system’s effectiveness through simulations, message broadcasts, and feedback collection. These exercises help improve the system by assessing phone network behaviour and coverage.
This video explains (in Italian) how it works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrTKqM7B0Mw
