Bermuda's emergency response systems will be put to the test in a tsunami training exercise next week.

The Ministry of National Security’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation Team will conduct the Caribe Wave 25 tsunami exercise on Thursday.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, said the annual drill will “enhance our ability to respond swiftly and effectively” should a tsunami hit.

He said: “While the likelihood of a tsunami impacting Bermuda remains low, our commitment to readiness must remain high.

“This exercise enhances our ability to respond swiftly and effectively, ensuring we are equipped to protect lives and property should the unexpected occur.”

The exercise will simulate the impact of an 8.6-magnitude earthquake in the Azores-Cape St Vincent Ridge, triggering a series of test tsunami notifications.

The Bermuda Weather Service, which is the island's designated tsunami-warning focal point, will initiate the exercise by issuing a test tsunami watch and subsequent updates to key emergency agencies, including the Maritime Operations Centre and the Emergency Measures Organisation.

Participating agencies will enact their tsunami contingency plans throughout the day to test the effectiveness of Bermuda’s emergency alert systems and response coordination. The drill will also evaluate public notification strategies to ensure that timely and accurate information reaches residents during a tsunami threat.

Mr Weeks added: “Exercises like Caribe Wave 25 allow us to identify gaps and refine our emergency response framework. Public safety remains our top priority, and we must continue to engage in proactive training to safeguard our community from potential disasters, however unlikely they may seem.”

Caribe Wave is a region-wide exercise organised by the intergovernmental co-ordination group for tsunamis and coastal hazards in the Caribbean under Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Bermuda’s participation aligns with international best practices in disaster preparedness and ensures collaboration with regional partners and agencies such as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Officials will conduct a virtual debrief to review lessons learnt and enhance Bermuda’s tsunami response strategies.