What would a Cadiz tsunami look like? Douro estuary waves.
Credit: Zacarias da Mata – Shutterstock
Cadiz will transform into the epicentre of Response25 on Thursday, November 20, Spain’s most ambitious civil emergency exercise to date. Over 20,000 people, from firefighters and schoolchildren to hotel staff and local residents, will participate in a meticulously planned simulation of a tsunami triggered by a powerful undersea earthquake.
Coordinated by the Junta de Andalucia, the drill plans to test the region’s newly implemented tsunami emergency plan and measure readiness for one of coastal Spain’s most feared natural threats.
Response25: Spain’s largest ever tsunami drill hits Cadiz on November 20
The scenario begins at 10am when a simulated 7.6-magnitude earthquake strikes southwest of Cape St. Vincent, mirroring the tectonic dynamics of the historic 1755 Lisbon disaster. Within minutes, the national ES-Alert system will blast warnings to every mobile phone in the affected zones, while church bells, public loudspeakers, and digital signs direct residents to safety. For the first time, a dedicated SMS and chat-based alert system will reach people with hearing impairments to make sure everyone gets the message in crisis communication.
From the fishing port of Barbate to the luxury resorts of Conil, evacuation drills will be carried out in real time. Vertical evacuations, guiding people to upper floors of reinforced buildings, will be tested along with horizontal routes to higher ground. Over 1,000 emergency responders, including Civil Protection units, the National Police, and regional health teams, will deploy ambulances, rescue boats, and helicopters to simulate search-and-rescue operations amid flooded streets and damaged infrastructure.
7.6-magnitude quake scenario: How the Cádiz tsunami drill unfolds at 10am
The exercise draws on advanced tsunami flood models developed by the Spanish Geographical Institute (IGN) and the University of Málaga. These maps identify flood depths, arrival times, and safe zones with unprecedented precision. In Cádiz city, where the old town’s narrow streets could become death traps, the drill will measure how quickly 5,000 residents can reach designated assembly points.
Businesses along the Costa de la Luz are fully engaged. Hotels will evacuate guests, restaurants will keep perishable stock safe, and cultural sites like the Roman Theatre of Baelo Claudia will practise heritage protection protocols. Schools across the province will treat the day as a live lesson in disaster preparedness.
Cádiz old town evacuation challenge: Can 5,000 residents escape in time?
Response25 is the culmination of three years of planning under the European Tsunami Risk Mitigation Programme. While no real waves will crash ashore (we hope), the psychological and logistical realism is absolute. “People need to feel the urgency,” said Colonel Ana López of the Military Emergency Unit (UME). “Muscle memory saves lives.”
As November 20 approaches, the excitement in the Province of Cadiz is buzzing with preparation – and a quiet confidence. If the Atlantic ever rises again, Andalucía intends to be ready.