CERIDES provided a strong contribution during the implementation of the Main 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 29th and the 30th of October 2025.
CERIDES researchers are leading the implementation of the DEMONAX exercise evaluation and exercise dissemination / visibility activities. During the DEMONAX Main Planning Conference, Dr. Christos Dimopoulos, Director of Science in Civil Protection at CERIDES, had the opportunity to present to the participants the innovative FAIM Exercise Evaluation Framework, which will be applied during the DEMONAX field exercise activities. The FAIM framework has been introduced by Dr Dimopoulos 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:
- The latest version of the DEMONAX FSX Scenario and Objectives.
- The foreseen Base of Operations and the sites where USAR activities are foreseen to be conducted during the implementation of the DEMONAX FSX.
- The organisation and functions of the DEMONAX FSX Exercise Control (EXCON) structure.
- The expected operational composition of the International Response Capacities during the implementation of the DEMONAX FSX.
- The provision of the Host Nation Support services which will be offered by the Cyprus Republic during the implementation of the DEMONAX FSX.
- The current status of the DEMONAX FSX Observers and VIP Programs.
- The foreseen DEMONAX FSX injects related to Earthquake and Tsunami information management considerations.
- The DEMONAX FSX Evaluation Plan and the Lessons Learned from the implementation of past UCPM Full-Scale Exercises.
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 🇮🇹