The Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service has demonstrated a robust emergency response capability through a major three-day exercise that simulated a volcanic crisis on the island of São Miguel, testing whether the archipelago's disaster management system can withstand the intense pressure of a catastrophic natural event.
The drill, known as TOURO26, ran from May 28 to 30 and reconstructed scenarios based on the 2005 seismic crisis at the Fogo volcano, a real event that serves as a benchmark for emergency planning in the region. Authorities mobilized firefighters, municipal teams, military units, and health services across three municipalities—Vila Franca do Campo, Ribeira Grande, and Povoação—to simulate evacuations, collapsed buildings, and mass displacement of residents.
Why This Matters
• Volcanic risk is real: The Azores sit on a geologically active zone, and the 2005 Fogo crisis remains a reference point for disaster planning.
• Multi-agency coordination tested: Over a dozen regional and national entities participated, from the Portuguese Red Cross to the National Maritime Authority and GNR (National Republican Guard).
• Continuous improvement: The exercise revealed that while the system performs under stress, the region acknowledges it is never fully prepared for the unpredictable scale of natural disasters.
A High-Stress Test for a Vulnerable Archipelago
Rui Andrade, president of the Serviço Regional de Proteção Civil e Bombeiros dos Açores (SRPCBA), told the Lusa news agency that "the objectives initially set were fully achieved" and that the system proved capable of responding to elevated stress levels. The exercise combined classroom workshops led by experts from the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) and the Center for Seismic and Volcanic Information and Surveillance of the Azores (CIVISA) with live field operations, known as LIVEX drills, where personnel and equipment were mobilized in real time.
The simulation framework was designed to push the limits of municipal and regional civil protection plans, forcing teams to manage simultaneous emergencies: search and rescue in collapsed structures, establishment of evacuation zones, and logistical support for displaced populations. The exercise also involved a group of external observers from mainland Portugal, including representatives from the Lisbon Sappers Fire Regiment and the Madeira Regional Civil Protection Service, ensuring an independent assessment of performance.
According to Andrade, the Azores' exposure to extreme natural phenomena has been a catalyst for improving the region's civil protection infrastructure. He emphasized that these drills are not merely tests but critical tools for refining planning instruments and measuring the system's state of readiness. "It's a rigorous and demanding moment to assess our level of preparation, to perfect and improve, but also to gauge our operational capacity," he said.
What This Means for Residents
For anyone living in the Azores, the exercise underscores both progress and persistent risk. The archipelago's location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge makes it one of the most seismically and volcanically active regions in Europe. The Fogo volcano crisis of 2005, which triggered thousands of tremors over several months, remains the template for worst-case planning. The recent elevation of the volcanic alert level to V1 (metastable equilibrium phase) in the Faial-Pico channel in May 2026 illustrates that the threat is not theoretical.
Regional President José Manuel Bolieiro acknowledged that the Azores are "better prepared" but stressed that "we are never fully prepared, nor fully equipped, because the scale of extreme natural phenomena is increasingly regular, increasingly intense, and destructive." This reflects a sobering reality for residents: while the system has improved, the unpredictability and severity of volcanic and seismic events mean that absolute safety cannot be guaranteed.
The TOURO26 exercise is part of a broader strategy that includes quarterly simulations across different islands. In September 2025, the BASALTO 25.3 drill on Terceira Island simulated an eruption of the Santa Bárbara volcano, testing the evacuation of the Biscoitos parish. In May 2026, a parallel military exercise called Açor26 ran on Pico Island, involving all three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces in a coordinated response to a simulated seismic crisis.
Institutional Coordination and Regional Readiness
The scale of participation in TOURO26 highlights the multi-layered architecture of disaster response in the Azores. Alongside the island's fire brigades and the three affected municipalities, the exercise engaged the Operational Command of the Azores, the Portuguese Red Cross, and several regional directorates: Environment and Climate Action, Housing, Public Works, and Health. Also involved were the Social Security Institute of the Azores, the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory, the National Maritime Authority, the PSP (Public Security Police), the GNR, CIVISA, and the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere.
This web of institutions must function seamlessly under pressure, and the exercise served as a real-time audit of communication protocols, resource allocation, and decision-making hierarchies. The CIVISA, which manages the archipelago's seismic and volcanic monitoring network, plays a critical role in issuing alerts on an eight-level scale ranging from V0 (rest) to V7 (eruption in progress). The center's data feeds directly into emergency activation procedures, meaning that the speed and accuracy of its assessments can determine the success or failure of an evacuation.
Lessons from Other Atlantic Archipelagos
The Azores' approach mirrors strategies used by other vulnerable island groups in the Atlantic. The Canary Islands, which experienced a prolonged volcanic eruption on La Palma in 2021, operate under a specialized plan called PEVOLCA that uses a four-color traffic-light alert system to communicate risk to the public. Cape Verde, highly exposed to floods, droughts, and volcanic activity, is developing a multi-hazard early warning system (MHEWS) with international support. Madeira conducts annual sector-wide drills and uses Table Top Exercises (TTX) to test administrative and financial protocols in disaster scenarios.
What sets the Azores apart is the frequency and operational realism of its exercises. The commitment to quarterly live drills, each tailored to a specific island's risk profile, ensures that emergency teams remain sharp and that procedural weaknesses are identified before a real crisis strikes. The involvement of civilian volunteers in some simulations—such as residents of Biscoitos during BASALTO 25.3—also helps build public awareness and preparedness, a factor that can save lives when disaster strikes.
Financial and Technical Investment
While the official evaluation of TOURO26 praised the system's performance, regional authorities have acknowledged that ongoing investment is necessary. The Government of the Azores has committed to increasing funding, training, and professional recognition for civil protection personnel. In February 2026, officials noted that the region benefits from continuous reinforcement of monitoring, forecasting, and risk assessment tools through collaboration with the scientific community.
The Regional Emergency Plan for Civil Protection of the Azores, updated in 2022, now incorporates detailed scenarios for equipment, personnel, and support from national entities such as ANEPC, INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency), firefighters, GNR, and PSP. This centralized framework allows for rapid scaling of resources in the event of a major crisis, though the challenge remains in ensuring that all components function as intended under real-world conditions.
The Road Ahead
The success of TOURO26 offers reassurance that the Azores' civil protection system can handle significant stress, but the region's leadership is clear-eyed about the limits of preparedness. The archipelago's geological instability is a permanent feature of life, and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events linked to climate change add another layer of complexity.
For residents and expatriates in the Azores, the message is twofold: the system works, but complacency is not an option. Familiarity with evacuation routes, understanding the CIVISA alert system, and participating in community drills are practical steps that can make a difference. The next major seismic or volcanic event is not a question of if, but when—and the region's ability to respond will depend not just on institutional readiness but on the informed participation of everyone who calls these islands home.
