Venezuela Activates Over 400 Training Centers for Civil Protection Drill

The minister for the Interior, Citizen Security, and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, launched the National Civil Protection Drill at an event in the state of Miranda, aimed at strengthening the people’s preparedness for emergencies.

Launching the drill on Saturday, September 27, Cabello reoprted that more than 400 training centers have been activated across the country, and highlighted that this program reaffirms the Venezuelan government’s commitment to the comprehensive protection of the people.

Minister Cabello underscored that the objective of the drill is to train the public to respond to any contingency, “whether natural or man-made.” He emphasized that the people must be the first link in the response chain to events such as floods, earthquakes, fires, or deliberate attacks.

“Who are the first ones who should be prepared? The people,” he stressed. “They must know how to act, how to administer first response, and how to help anyone who needs it. This is everyone’s responsibility.”

The drill is part of a national strategy spearheaded by President Nicolás Maduro, divided into phases that include mobilization, preparation, and deployment. Cabello explained that thousands of Venezuelans, irrespective of political affiliation, have actively participated in these sessions, receiving training in self-defense, contingency management, and security protocols.

In reference to the recent earthquakes that originated in Zulia, Barinas, and Lara states and that rocked the whole country, the minister reported that despite 10 earthquakes and 27 aftershocks of varying magnitudes, there were no human casualties. He attributed this outcome to the robust civil protection system and the quality of the housing built by the Bolivarian Revolution.

“More than 4 million well-built homes are part of our shield against natural disasters. But infrastructure alone is not enough: we need awareness, preparedness, and discipline,” he said.

During the day, themed stations were set up at the instruction points, covering scenarios such as earthquakes, emergency medical care, safe evacuation, and fire response. Firefighters, Civil Protection officials, FANB personnel, and organized communities actively participated.

Cabello reiterated that this drill is not an isolated event, but part of a sustained policy to shield the nation from any threat. “Here is the people, here is the strength. Venezuela is preparing, organizing, and strengthening itself,” he emphasized.

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The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, participated in the drill alongside workers from the Ministry of Hydrocarbons.

He congratulated the workers of the state oil corporation Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons for their excellent participation. “We are always committed to defending the sovereignty and stability of Venezuela,” he wrote on social media.

The oil sector workers organized and participated in drills at 35 locations across the country and at the various offices of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons. As for the PDVSA’s headquarters in Caracas, an evacuation drill was carried out effectively by 200 workers, in order to be prepared for any contingency.

Rodríguez further highlighted that this drill was carried out by oil workers in El Furrial in Monagas State, at the Paraguaná Refinery Complex in Falcón State, and in Zulia, to assess the response capacity and performance of the teams in the event of earthquakes, fires, or any other emergency.

He also praised the role of the oil sector workers in facing the US-imposed blockade, asserting that the industry’s development has demonstrated “what the oil worker, the Venezuelan men and women are made of.” He congratulated them for “the immense recovery” of the oil industry “despite the attacks, aggressions, and blockades.”

(Últimas Noticias) by Randolph Borges

Translation: Orinoco Tribune

OT/SC/DZ