French frigate evacuates 50 people during exercise in Gøtuvík

About 50 residents of Eystur Municipality took part in an exercise by the French frigate Auvergne in Gøtuvík on Tuesday, Kringvarp Føroya reported. The exercise simulated the evacuation of civilians from an area affected by an accident or crisis.

The participants acted as extras in a training scenario designed to prepare military personnel to secure an area and evacuate civilians from a dangerous situation. They were taken aboard the frigate, which later transported them to Havn.

Árant Hansen from Norðragøta was among those who took part. He said the exercise gave participants an insight into what it might be like to be evacuated during an accident or crisis.

The Auvergne is currently operating under NATO command in northern waters. According to the frigate’s second-highest-ranking officer, the exercise was intended to train the crew for various tasks that could become necessary during a crisis.

In the simulated scenario, an island had become what was described as a failed state. The military’s task was to secure the area and evacuate its population.