Varaždin County conducts GRECALE earthquake simulation exercise

The GRECALE Ivanec 2026 simulation exercise was conducted at the Varaždin County Palace to test civil protection readiness for an earthquake scenario in the Ivanec area. Part of the international GRECALE project, which aims to improve emergency communication for natural disaster resilience, the exercise involves partners from six European countries.

The drill focused on the initial response capabilities of the City of Ivanec and Varaždin County, specifically testing information exchange, coordination of operational forces, decision-making, and public communication. For the first time, participants utilized the IPA ADRION web platform, a tool developed under the GRECALE project to enable networking and data exchange among civil protection stakeholders.

Silvija Zagorec, head of the Varaždin County Civil Protection Headquarters, emphasized that natural disasters do not recognize administrative borders, making cooperation within Croatia and across the Adriatic-Ionian region essential. The exercise included local civil protection headquarters, relevant services, and operational forces, with coordination extending to the national level through the Ministry of the Interior.