TOURO25 drill boosts promptness and effectiveness of Civil Protection system in the Azores, says Alonso Miguel - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, highlighted the role of the TOURO25 drill in consolidating a more prepared, coordinated and resilient civil protection system, capable of ensuring an effective and integrated response in emergencies.

"Without a solid and prepared system, we would be a vulnerable and helpless community in the most critical moments. The ability to respond promptly, coordinately and effectively is crucial to saving lives," he stressed.

"Every exercise, every training session and every investment is an opportunity to learn, evolve and continuously improve," stated the government official. He emphasised that "TOURO25 is more than a drill, it is a commitment on the part of the Regional Government to an increasingly integrated civil protection system that is closer to the population."

Organised by the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA), TOURO25 took place between November 6 and 8 on the island of Faial, bringing together 22 entities and around 150 operational staff, as well as extras and technicians.

Over three days, in the face of adverse weather conditions, operational responses to complex scenarios were tested, including landslides, evacuations, multiple-victim accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials, putting the various Civil Protection agents to the test.

For the first time, the drill combined thematic workshops followed by LIVEX exercises (movement of resources in the field), in a model that provided a more integrated approach between technical training and operational training.

Alonso Miguel chaired the opening session of TOURO25 and was present at one of the various scenarios of the drill, accompanied by the President of SRPCBA, Rui Andrade, emphasising the importance of coordination between entities and the preparation of the agents involved. In this regard, he stressed that "continuous improvement is the key to excellence in civil protection, and it requires us to always be one step ahead, anticipating challenges and developing innovative solutions to protect the community.

The Regional Secretary, who oversees Civil Protection, pointed out that, in addition to training, this is an area that requires qualified, motivated and properly supported human resources to carry out their missions.

In this regard, he highlighted the ongoing investment made by the Regional Government, emphasising that more than €60 million has been invested in Civil Protection over the last five years. He added that the SRPCBA Investment Plan for 2026 amounts to €12.5 million, the second-highest amount ever, ensuring the continuity of a strategy to strengthen and modernise the system.

Among the measures currently underway, Alonso Miguel highlighted "the acquisition of new vehicles and equipment and the increase in funding under the Financing Model for Humanitarian Associations of Volunteer Firefighters, which will rise from €500,000 to €750,000, with a view to strengthening their operational activity. Furthermore, he mentioned an additional €350,000 in funding for Pre-Hospital Medical Emergencies, which will contribute to a further increase in firefighters' salaries, to be defined in the Working Conditions Ordinance."

"Investing in civil protection is about investing in the quality of life of the Azoreans," he said.

Alonso Miguel concluded by expressing his "sincere gratitude to all those involved’ for their commitment, from firefighters, security forces, armed forces, the Horta City Council, the National Maritime Authority, the Portuguese Red Cross, the Sociedade Açoreana de Armazenagem de Gás (SAAGA), government departments, entities with a duty to cooperate, and scientific institutions; all of whom have contributed to the success of this initiative.