Brisbane will be shaken by a mock earthquake to test the response of emergency crews from around the world.
More than 300 personnel from 30 countries will take part in this week's Asia Pacific Earthquake Response Exercise, which will make Brisbane the epicentre of the hypothetical disaster.
The scenario beginning on Tuesday will be "a severe earthquake that causes significant loss of life and collapsed buildings in the Brisbane CBD, with impacts crossing the border into NSW".
The exercise aims to help Australia better prepare for a major disaster, and explore how international urban search and rescue teams would aid the recovery.
Personnel from Turkey are taking part in the exercise, six months after parts of that country were devastated by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that led to the loss of tens of thousands of lives.
Australia’s urban search and rescue team helped with recovery efforts in Turkey and Syria.
“While moderate to severe earthquakes happen less frequently in Australia, they still occur and we need to be prepared," federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said in a statement.
"Building on this capability means we are better prepared for any disaster that may occur in the future.”
The exercise is hosted by the National Emergency Management Agency, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Fire and Rescue NSW and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
