Realistic large-scale Firefighting Exercise in the Panagopoula Tunnels

• A “puzzle” scenario for all of the parties involved to solve
• With the participation of the Fire Brigade, the Achaia Motorways Traffic Police and the National Emergency Aid Center (EKAV)                    
• Ensure maximum readiness of the relevant services 

Wednesday, February 19 at 17:00 p.m. On the motorway, in the area of Panagopoula, maintenance works are being carried out. The branch to Patras is served via the bypass of the tunnel. The branch to Athens is served by traffic reversal in the tunnel. A private car on its way to Athens loses control in the tunnel and hits the walls several times before coming to a stop. A following truck has no time to react and collides with the private car. The collision caused a fuel spill, resulting in a fire and a complete blockage of both traffic lanes. A third passing vehicle collides with the rear of the truck and comes to a stop.

The tunnel's Automatic Incident Detection (AID) system immediately detects the incident. Two drivers are trapped inside the tunnel. Traffic at the time of the incident is estimated at 600 vehicles/hour.

A scenario for great problem solvers that the people of Olympia Odos, the Fire Brigade, the Achaia Motorways Traffic Police and the National Emergency Aid Center (EKAV) were called upon to deal with.

The "Large-scale Firefighting Exercise" in the Panagopoula tunnels was successfully conducted on the evening of Wednesday, February 19, until the early hours of Thursday, February 20, 2025, with the participation of all stakeholders and the Ministry for Infrastructure & Transport.

The main objectives of the exercise were to evaluate:

• Coordination and communication among all stakeholders;
• The procedures;
• The means of signaling alarm, accessibility and evacuation of the tunnels;
• Telecommunications infrastructure and road equipment response;

Testing and familiarization of all with the rescue means and other equipment of the project tunnels.

Large-scale Firefighting Exercises are regularly carried out on Olympia Odos Motorway to improve coordination between the relevant services and motorway staff to ensure maximum readiness in the event of an incident.