There will be a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in San Jose Thursday, but don’t be alarmed

September 2^nd, 2015 (ICR News) Emergency sirens, text messages and highway alerts on electronic billboards will report on a magnitude-6.5 earthquake striking the city while more than 60,000 people from 94 downtown buildings will be evacuated to designated “safe zones” – but it is only a drill.

A massive emergency drill will occur in San Jose on Thursday morning beginning at 10 a.m.

The first-of-its-kind drill, organized by the National Emergency Commission (CNE) is intended to test the capital city’s emergency response plans and ability to cope with a crisis.

Beginning at 10 a.m., emergency personnel from more than 25 institutions will be responsible for evacuating some 60,000 people from 94 buildings in San Jose between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.  Temporary road closures are expected as personnel route more than 60,000 people to designated “safe zones.”

All work will be stopped as part of the drill, and all public institutions taking part are expected to respond as though it were a real emergency.  This includes public banks Banco Nacional, Popular and Banco de Costa Rica, and the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) who will evacuate both staff and any customers present at 10 a.m.

Also participating in the drill will be Hospital Clinica Biblica and Walmart, which will evacuate four of its Pali stores, amongst many other public and private institutions and businesses.

The drill will conclude at 11 a.m., authorities said.