Emergency services have recreated the aftermath of a devastating Tube disaster at a disused power station near Dartford this week as part of a Europe-wide initiative.
London Fire Brigade, the organisation coordinating the operation, described it as the “largest ever disaster training exercise” in the brigade’s 150-year history.
Using decommissioned London Underground carriages donated by Transport for London, the exercise has recreated a scenario in which a building has collapsed above a Tube station, resulting in over 1,000 casualties.
The four-day event at Littlebrook Power Station has been funded by European Commission, with donations from partner organisations. Joining UK rescue and emergency crews, are teams from Hungary, Italy and Cyprus.
London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said in a statement: “Exercises of this scale are important to ensure that we are always ready to respond no matter what happens.
“You can’t get this sort of experience from a text book, we need to play it like it’s real and ensure that should the worst happen, our response is effective and well coordinated.
He added: “Although this scenario is not a terrorist attack, we will be practising procedures and systems that are common to any emergency that results in a large number of fatalities and injuries.”
