Exercise in Yermasoyia Municipality

Exercise in Yermasoyia Municipality, Yermasoyia dam and Foinikaria Community

Cyprus Civil Defence and KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence of the University of Cyprus,

announce that for the purposes of the EU-funded PathoCERT project, an emergency response simulation

exercise will be held on 21st of September 2023 from 08:00-14:00 at Yermasoyia Municipality,

Yermasoyia Dam and Foinikaria community.

The EU-funded PathoCERT project aims to strengthen the coordination capabilities of first responders in

the event that they have to operate in places where the risk of contaminated water with pathogenic

microorganisms is high. Within this scope, the project developed specialized technologies, tools and

procedures to be validated by first responders, helping them to detect pathogens rapidly and better

control emergency situations. All the PathoCERT technologies will be field-tested in 5 pilot studies, in

Spain, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria.

The exercise will be activated by a simulated high-magnitude earthquake scenario, which will

supposedly cause damages and landslides in Yermasoyia and Foinikaria area. The exercise will be

coordinated by Cyprus Civil Defence and the University of Cyprus, with the contribution of the Water

Board of Limassol, the Sewerage Board of Limassol- Amathus and the Water Development Department.

The exercise includes simulation of rescue incidents and investigation of water contamination around

the Yermasoyia Dam and in areas of the Amathos River bed and an area evacuation incident in the

community of Foinikaria. The exercise will also involve aerial observation units which will deploy

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the area of ​​the dam.

Cyprus Civil Defence would like to express its gratitude in advance to the Municipality of Yermasoyia,

the Community Council of Foinikaria and their residents for their cooperation and support for the

successful completion of the exercise.