The NURIEX GU 2024 simulation has become the largest nuclear emergency test carried out in Spain to date. This exercise, carried out at the Trillo nuclear power plant (Guadalajara), aimed to check the coordinated reaction to a hypothetical radioactive leak, evaluating the effectiveness of the protocols established in the Guadalajara Nuclear Emergency Plan (PENGUA) and testing the coordination of resources at different levels.
More than 360 specialists and extraordinary media participated in the simulation, which included organisations such as the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and the Red Cross. In addition, members of the Civil Guard, Civil Protection, firefighters and health emergency services were mobilised, providing an unprecedented deployment in this area.
Drill details
The drill began with the activation of the Es-Alert system, which sent alert messages to the mobile phones of residents within a radius of 9 municipalities. populations of Trillo, Brihuega, Cifuentes, among other affected people, received immediate notifications, reaching more than 6.400 inhabitants.
The exercise simulated a serious incident at the nuclear power plant, with a radioactive leak that required the implementation of urgent measures. evacuation and decontamination. One of the key moments was the evacuation of a hundred students and teachers from the IES Don Juan Manuel in Cifuentes, who were transferred to Brihuega to undergo a dosimetric control under the supervision of the CSN.
Evaluation and response
During the drill, mobile and fixed decontamination stations installed by the UME were deployed, where the evacuees were treated. In addition, medical care was simulated. seriously injured at an advanced post set up by the Castilla-La Mancha Health Service (SESCAM). These temporary facilities allowed the procedures to be tested under emergency conditions, including the management of a communications failure conventional
The use of Drones to monitor operations was one of the most prominent elements, providing those responsible for the drill with a real-time aerial view to follow movements and operations in the affected area.
Preliminary results
This exhaustive exercise was described as a success by those involved, including the Government delegate in Castilla-La Mancha, Miracles Toulon, who highlighted the importance of testing for the continuous improvement of the nuclear safety procedures. Tolón stressed that the data obtained after the simulation will provide valuable information, allowing the incorporation of improvement proposals in current protocols.
For her part, the Government's subdelegate in Guadalajara, Susana Cabellos, stressed that despite the low probability of a nuclear accident, preparation and coordination of emergency forces It is crucial to ensure an effective response to any eventuality.
The system Es-Alert played a key role in communicating with the affected population, which is essential in emergencies. This system uses the antenna network of mobile phone operators to send alert messages without requiring personal data, in compliance with current data protection regulations.
A pioneering simulation in Spain
The relevance of this simulation lies not only in the number of participants, but also in the fact that it is the first of its kind. magnitude carried out on the ground in a nuclear zone in Spain. The operation involved different entities and organizations in a joint effort to ensure the safety of the population.
In addition to evacuation and decontamination, the following was carried out: access control in the vicinity of the affected area, where checkpoints supervised by the Civil Guard and the CSN were established, with the support of the UME. All these elements are part of the efforts to mitigate the impact of an unexpected nuclear event.
The results of the drill The results will be analysed next week, allowing the authorities to obtain a detailed assessment of the actions carried out and to establish the necessary improvements for future emergencies. As in any drill of this type, the collaboration of All organizations and entities involved is vital to the success of the operation.
Preparation and confidence were the key words that defined this drill. The Government delegate concluded that, although nuclear events have a low probability of occurrence, these exercises continue to be a crucial element to ensure that Guadalajara always be prepared for any eventuality that may arise with respect to its nuclear infrastructure. vocation of public service of all participants was highlighted as essential to guarantee the safety of citizens in emergency situations.
With this drill, it is expected that security and communication measures for the population of the nuclear zone are now more than ever under adequate control, providing the authorities and the population with greater trust in protocols that would be activated in the event of a real emergency.