A full-scale earthquake simulation in Bhutan’s capital has exposed gaps in emergency equipment and resource mobilisation while testing how authorities, hospitals and emergency responders would coordinate after a major quake, with Nepal’s earthquake experts providing technical support for the exercise.
The simulation recreated a scenario akin to a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Thimphu, which involved mass casualties, damaged buildings, disrupted roads and power supply, and tested how authorities would make decisions, communicate, coordinate rescue operations and mobilise resources in the aftermath of such a disaster.
“Currently, through this simulation exercise, we realised that we don’t have that kind of resource to be mobilised immediately and set up field hospitals,” BBS quoted Phub Tshering, incident commander of the earthquake simulation exercise at the hospital, as saying.
BBS reported that the exercise involved response operations at nine locations in Thimphu, including a simulated hotel collapse, severely damaged residential buildings and a fire in Olakha — a prominent urban area and commercial zone in the capital city. Because of family emergencies or blocked roads, while the hospitals themselves were without power, the scenario assumed that some emergency medical staff could not reach the hospital.
The simulation team also assessed critical infrastructure, including 11 bridges, a hospital, an electricity terminal, the telecom network and a food supply warehouse, Nepali Times reported. One recommendation was for Bhutan to establish at least one six-member earthquake first-responder rescue squad for every ward serving 15,000-20,000 people, according to Nepali Times .
