# Latin American disaster preparedness drills

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/latin-american-disaster-preparedness-drills
> Updated: 2026-10-19T22:31:36.000Z. Sources: 36. Developments: 3.

Several Latin American nations are conducting large-scale emergency evacuation and disaster preparedness drills to test national response capacities.

In early October, Panama and Chile initiated drills to measure institutional response and community resilience. Panama’s ‘La resiliencia empieza en casa’ exercise, organized by the Ministry of Government and the National Civil Protection System, aimed to involve over 10% of the population. Meanwhile, Chile’s SENAPRED Atacama conducted a massive simulation in coastal communities focusing on a high-intensity earthquake and subsequent tsunami as part of the ‘Chile Preparado’ program.

By mid-October, Peru and Venezuela implemented preparedness exercises. Peru’s III National Multi-Hazard Drill, organized by Indeci, focused on earthquake and tsunami risks in Lima and Callao, while other regions addressed local threats like flooding and forest fires. Simultaneously, Venezuela’s Protección Civil Táchira conducted its tenth seismic drill in San Cristóbal, utilizing road closures to improve community reaction times and emergency protocols.

On October 13, 2026, Peru continued its III National Multi-Hazard Drill, with regional scenarios tailored to local vulnerabilities, such as heavy rains and flooding in Arequipa, or seismic activity and tsunamis in Tacna. Venezuela’s tenth seismic drill in San Cristóbal also proceeded, utilizing city center road closures to refine emergency response protocols.

On October 21, 2026, Colombia held its National Emergency Response Drill, organized by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). The exercise covered more than 96% of the national territory, involving approximately 48,000 public and private entities and over 5,000 communities. The drill consisted of two phases: a morning phase for citizens and businesses to practice evacuation and self-protection, and an afternoon phase for local governments to validate territorial response strategies. While many regions focused on earthquakes, others addressed floods, fires, and landslides. In Bogotá, preliminary reports indicated nearly 2 million people participated.

## Claims

- The National Emergency Response Drill took place on October 21, 2026. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- The drill included two scheduled times: 10:00 a.m. for the public/private sector and 2:00 p.m. for territorial authorities. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The exercise covered more than 96% of the Colombian territory. (single source)
- Approximately 1,941,255 people participated in the Bogotá district drill. (single source)
- The Colombian Air Force used a UH-60 'Angel' helicopter for an aeromedical evacuation exercise in Rionegro. (single source)
- The drill in Magdalena involved the evacuation of 150 people from the Palacio Tayrona in 4 minutes. (single source)
- The Bogotá drill included scenarios for earthquakes, floods, forest fires, and air quality issues. (single source)
- 1,046 municipalities registered to participate in the national exercise. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-19: Colombia conducts National Emergency Response Drill

Colombia conducted its 2026 National Emergency Response Drill on October 21, involving thousands of entities and communities to test evacuation and disaster coordination protocols nationwide.

19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-conducts-national-emergency-drill-and-environmental-crackdowns

### 2026-10-12: Peru and Venezuela conduct multi-hazard disaster preparedness drills

Peru and Venezuela are conducting large-scale disaster preparedness drills, including earthquake, tsunami, and flood simulations, to improve national emergency response and public safety.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/peru-to-hold-iii-national-multi-hazard-drill-on-october-13

### 2026-10-07: Panama and Chile conduct national emergency evacuation drills

Panama and Chile are conducting major emergency evacuation drills to test institutional response and community preparedness for natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/panama-and-chile-conduct-national-emergency-evacuation-drills

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Cite as: Latin American disaster preparedness drills. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/latin-american-disaster-preparedness-drills