CERIDES had a very strong presence during the implementation of the 1st Planning Conference of the emblematic ΔΗΜΩΝΑΧ (DEMONAX) – Cyprus Earthquake Full-Scale Exercise, which took place at the premises of the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) on the 3rd and the 4th of April 2025.
CERIDES researchers are leading the implementation of the DEMONAX exercise evaluation and exercise dissemination / visibility activities. The latest version of the FAIM (FAcilitate – IMprovement) exercise evaluation framework will be applied. The FAIM exercise evaluation framework has been introduced by Dr. Christos Dimopoulos, Director of Science in Civil Protection at CERIDES, and it is being continuously updated based on the experience gained from its application in multiple UCPM Full-Scale Preparedness Exercises.
During the Conference, the DEMONAX project partners delivered a range of key presentations on the following themes:
1. The Context and the Operation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM)
2. The Strategic Context of the DEMONAX
3. The Cyprus National Earthquake Disaster Management Plan
4. The basic Scenario of DEMONAX
The presentations provided the basis for the implementation of extensive and fruitful discussions among all project stakeholders. The Conference participants also had the opportunity to visit a number of sites which can potentially be used for the implementation of the Exercise. Among others, the participants visited the impressive premises of the Cyprus Disaster Response Special Unit (D.R.S.U. – ‘EMAK’) in Kofinou, Larnaca.
We are deeply grateful to the project manager of DEMONAX, Mr Panayiotis Liassides (Assistant Director of Cyprus Civil Defence) and his team for the excellent organisation and management of the meeting. We are also grateful to the DEMONAX project officer Mr Per Oyvind Semb, for his participation and guidance.
The aim of DEMONAX is to strengthen the capacity of the Republic of Cyprus to effectively prepare for, and respond to the statistically very likely occurrence of a large-scale earthquake event on the island, one which can severely disrupt the implementation of all societal functions and result in substantial human and financial losses. The aim of DEMONAX is also to test and improve the Republic’s ability to activate the UCPM and to effectively carry out the Host Nation Support (HNS) guidelines of the European Union for incoming international support teams.
The CERIDES Team responsible for the implementation of the DEMONAX project tasks comprises of the following scientists:
Dr. Christos Dimopoulos (Scientific Manager)
Mr. Evangelos Katsaros (Researcher)
Dr. Demetris Hadjiloucas (Researcher)
Professor George Boustras (Scientific Advisor)
The DEMONAX consortium consists of the following organisations:
Cyprus Civil Defence 🇨🇾
European University Cyprus / CERIDES – Center of Excellence in Risk and Decision Sciences 🇨🇾
Ministry of Interior of Montenegro 🇲🇪
Direction générale de la Sécurité civile et de la gestion des crises 🇫🇷
General Secretariat of Civil Protection 🇬🇷
DIPARTIMENTO DELLA PROTEZIONE CIVILE 🇮🇹
National Observatory of Athens 🇬🇷
Ministero dell’Interno 🇮🇹