Disaster plan test a huge success

THE country’s biggest major emergency plan swung into action this week after a simulated explosion at an oil storage terminal.

It was the first time Cork’s new plan, designed to respond to and deal with major disasters, had been tested since it was updated earlier this month.

All three state agencies involved — the gardaí, Health Service Executive (HSE) ambulance service and the county council fire service — described it as a success.

The drama was centred around the ConocoPhillips plant on Whiddy Island, off Bantry, the scene of the country’s worst maritime disaster in which 51 people died after an explosion and fire on the Betelgeuse oil tanker in 1979.

The simulated exercise began when the alarm was raised just after 9am after a call was made to Bandon Garda Station about an explosion at the oil plant. Two casualties were reported.

Up to 30 fire fighters from local units, as well as from Carrigaline and Skibbereen, 18 gardaí and 20 HSE ambulance staff responded.

An incident room was set up in Bantry’s council offices where senior gardaí, fire chiefs and HSE officers worked to coordinate the response. Gardaí were in control of the operation for the first hour.

A fire tender with a hydraulic lift from Carrigaline was shipped on to the island to deal with the fire.

The casualties were recovered and removed from Whiddy by inshore lifeboat to a nearby airfield where they were treated.

The incident was contained and the exercise completed by noon.

Media liaison officer, Garda Sergeant Niall Crowley, said there had been excellent coordination between all the agencies involved.

He said such exercises are crucial to ensure the various agencies have everything in place, including communications systems, to ensure they can work together seamlessly in the event of a major disaster.