Gotland evacuation drill starts Monday; nobody leaves the island

An evacuation exercise on Gotland will bring extra buses, police and military vehicles to the island from 5 to 8 October. Nobody will be moved to the mainland, and the exercise does not mean the risk of a crisis has increased, Region Gotland says.

The largest movements are planned for Wednesday, 7 October, when volunteers playing evacuees will travel between locations that will not be announced in advance.

The region’s notice, published on 2 October, asks people to keep away from exercise areas, follow signs and instructions, and drive past slowly without stopping.

Hundreds of people and several organisations will take part. The exercise tests coordination, leadership and transport arrangements; the region describes it as the first evacuation drill on this scale since the 1960s.

Residents may see groups of people in usually quiet places and signs identifying the exercise. The region also asks households to review their emergency supplies and discuss what they would do in a crisis.

DailySweden

DailySweden's desk of editors, reporters, researchers and investigative journalists. We bring readers factual, truthful and objective reporting on the issues that matter to them.

Contact the editorial desk ›