Rescue service professionals and volunteers from four countries brought together for Barents Rescue Exercise in Levi

Ministry of the Interior

28.9.2015 15.42

Press release

Finland will host an international rescue exercise between the countries in the Barents Region – Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia – in Levi, Kittilä from 28 September to 2 October 2015. The exercise is based on a scenario where the resources of the Lapland Rescue Department and other rescue services in northern Finland are not sufficient to deal with the situation in the region, but assistance has to be requested from the neighbouring countries.

Participants in the Barents Rescue 2015 Exercise comprise over 900 volunteers and rescue and medical professionals. The exercise aims to improve preparedness and cooperation between the participating countries in a true emergency. The countries have signed an agreement concerning cooperation in the prevention of, preparedness for and response to emergencies in the Barents Region. Such exercises are arranged every two years.

Alarming, requesting assistance and communicating information

The exercise in Kittilä will involve warning and alarming, requesting and receiving assistance from the neighbouring countries, dealing with border crossing formalities, managing rescue operations, sharing and communicating information and handling the media. The main focus will be on Host Nation Support, which refers to the arrangements made to receive the incoming assistance. These include performing border crossing and customs formalities smoothly, providing the staff with guides, interpreters, food, accommodation and other facilities, and ensuring the availability of fuel and water. The most essential element in managing the incoming staff is to assign them with tasks in which they can use their special skills.

Flooding with associated accidents

The exercise scenarios in Finland involve a series of heavy rainfalls in Kittilä and a simultaneous mine accident. Flooding and the raising water level cause serious damage to the road system in the region, leaving some areas without land connections and hindering food supply and power distribution. In addition, there is a landslide and a traffic accident. The flood scenario is based on a real incident in Kittilä about ten years ago.

The Barents Rescue 2015 Exercise is organised by the Crisis Management Centre (CMC Finland) and the Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services in collaboration with the Lapland Rescue Department and the gold mine of Agnico Eagle Finland. The participants include over forty organisations from Finland and key rescue and medical actors from the neighbouring countries.

Levi exercise also affected by refugee crisis

The exercise has been planned primarily to meet the needs of rescue services. Today's refugee crisis in Europe also affects Lapland and the course of the Barents Rescue Exercise, as other authorities responsible public security, such as the Police and the Border Guard, are now busy with managing the refugee situation.

- The situation today has affected the exercise. Some have cancelled their participation because they are busy elsewhere, says Jari Honkanen, Senior Officer at the Ministry of the Interior.

According to Mr Honkanen, the preparations have gone very well.

- Major decisions and preparations have already been made, and only minor details are to be finalised. It is great to see here in Levi how our extremely professional partners are strongly determined to do their best so that the exercise will be successful, says Mr Honkanen.

The exercise can be followed on Twitter with the hashtag #BR2015Levi.