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Talcahuano Prepares Unprecedented Maritime Evacuation Drill for Wildfire
The Municipality of Talcahuano, together with emergency agencies and the Navy, is fine-tuning the details for two community drills, one of them specifically aimed at wildfire prevention in Caleta Tumbes.
This first exercise, scheduled for October 15, includes for the first time a maritime evacuation of the local community, due to the restricted accessibility conditions of the area. The initiative aims to test the response capacity to a wildfire that, due to its characteristics, could block the only access route to the caleta.
“A wildfire in this location could affect not only the permanent residents but also the visitors who come to Tumbes. That’s why we are evaluating the feasibility of an evacuation by sea, an unprecedented challenge for the commune,” explained Boris Sáez, head of the Disaster Risk Management Department of the Municipality.
The drill will also serve as the launch event for the 2025-2026 Communal Wildfire Prevention Campaign, with a strong call for citizen co-responsibility in risk reduction. The municipality emphasized that the exercise aims to identify shortcomings, gather lessons, and strengthen the preparedness of both the community and institutions.
In parallel, a second drill will take place on November 7, this time in response to a magnitude 8+ earthquake followed by a tsunami, coordinated by Senapred and covering the Biobío and Ñuble regions.
In both cases, active participation from the community, neighborhood associations, educational institutions, and companies is expected. “We want people to take advantage of these opportunities to learn about their evacuation plans and reinforce the culture of prevention, which is key in a commune as exposed as ours,” stressed Sáez.
Through these exercises, Talcahuano seeks to strengthen preparedness against wildfire and natural threats, establishing prevention and safety as shared priorities between authorities and the community.
