Major oil spill emergency drill held off Cartagena coast

More than 250 emergency responders took part in a major coastal drill at Cala Reona to test how authorities would handle a large fuel spill at sea

Murcia's coastline was the setting for a large-scale emergency exercise to prepare for one of the worst environmental scenarios possible, a major oil spill at sea.

Over two days, Cala Reona beach near Cabo de Palos was chosen for a simulated marine pollution emergency. There was no real spill, but the operation was designed to test how quickly and effectively authorities would respond if a serious incident like this happened off the coast.

The drill simulated two merchant ships colliding south of Cabo de Palos. In the scenario, one vessel suffered damage to a fuel tank, causing oil to leak into the sea. The simulated spill then drifted toward the coast, reaching several beaches, including Cala Reona.

This triggered a major response involving local, regional and national authorities, with several official emergency plans activated. The goal was to test how well all agencies work together to contain pollution at sea, stop it from reaching shore, and clean affected beaches if contamination does make landfall.

More than 250 people took part, including emergency crews, environmental teams, police, Civil Protection, Coast Guard services, and specialists from across government departments.

The operation included:

• Helicopters for aerial surveillance and coordination
• Boats deployed at sea
• Drones for monitoring the spill
• A mobile command unit and advanced command post
• Environmental officers and clean-up teams
• Veterinarians and biologists
• A field hospital set up to treat wildlife affected by oil pollution, particularly seabirds and marine animals

Officials said regular drills like this are important, especially in an area close to the Escombreras refinery and the busy Port of Cartagena, where shipping traffic and industrial activity increase the risk of a serious incident like this.

They also held workshops and training sessions alongside the exercise, covering emergency coordination, risk assessment, wildlife rescue, and waste management following a spill.

Once the simulation ended, all organisations involved met to review how the operation had gone and identify lessons for any real emergency, making sure that if the worst ever happened, Murcia's coast would be as prepared as possible.

Read also: Video! Chaos on Murcia coast as 125 litres of rain flood streets in Los Alcázares

Image 1: Salvamento Marítimo
Image 2: CARM
Image 3-4: Salvamento Marítimo