The disaster control exercise “Magnitude 2024” in Mosbach tested numerous rescue organizations in a complex earthquake scenario. The DRF Luftrettung, as the only civilian emergency service on site, demonstrated its skills in rescuing the wounded with an H145 winch helicopter. Overall, the exercise highlighted the need for cross-border cooperation in the event of a disaster.
Magnitude 2024: Holistic disaster exercise
The scenario of a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Rhine Graben resulted in 500 injuries and 2,000 homeless people during the “Magnitude 2024” disaster control exercise. It assumed an indeterminate death toll, requiring cross-border cooperation from European aid organizations. DRF Luftrettung, with its H145 winch helicopter, trained in rescuing people from inaccessible buildings, together with the mountain rescue service and a rescue dog team.
Coordination and collaboration
The training took place at the Training Center Rescue and Help (TCRH) in Mosbach. A total of 525 emergency services took part. The DRF Luftrettung transported rescue workers using their helicopters after thoroughly exploring the area from the air. Experts from International Search and Rescue (ISAR) contributed to the efficiency of the collaboration.
Role of winch rescue and innovation
In addition to human expertise, the use of search dogs from the rescue dog team was also used. The ability of dog handlers to abseil with their dogs into urban disaster areas was intensively practiced. Florian Klinner described the terrain as ideal for simulating such urban scenarios. The H145 helicopter has been specifically configured to perform complex winching operations.
Political recognition and international cooperation
As part of the training day, the Interior Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Thomas Strobl, and EU Commissioner Janez Lenarčič visited the training area. Both underlined the importance of such exercises for better civil protection and cooperation across national borders. DRF Luftrettung proved to be a competent disaster relief partner with extensive aviation experience.
DRF Luftrettung is considered one of the leading providers of civil air rescue in Europe. With over 50 years of experience in air rescue, the organization relies on successful operations in alpine and urban areas as well as offshore. The expertise demonstrated ensures a high level of preparedness and competence in rescue operations under the most demanding conditions.
