This week the calm in Öregrund was replaced by police, rescue helicopters and military vehicles during the Sea Eagle 2019 exercise. Several authorities and voluntary organizations from, among others, Stockholm and Uppsala have practiced how to act in an accident at the nuclear power plant in Forsmark.

- It could mean a disaster in the event of a leak. We want to get better at this. That is why we participate in this exercise, says Stockholm County Governor Sven-Erik Österberg.

Sea eagle 2019 is the largest nuclear drill preparedness exercise so far conducted in Sweden, with approximately 80 external players, authorities and organizations participating for 36 hours.

Some confusion

The island of Gräsö is located just outside Forsmark and part of the exercise was to evacuate about 60 residents on the island. But for many Gräsö residents, there was a long wait in the autumn crash and at times there was some confusion about the police information.

Marie-Louise Strandborg is one of the volunteers at Gräsö who participated in the exercise. She hoped to be picked up by helicopter but remained standing with about 20 Gräsö residents at the ferry camp.

- I took the car here. According to those who stand here, we should wait for a bus. But how long nobody knows.

Great challenge evacuate Stockholm

From Stockholm County, 36 players participate and practice. A major challenge for the authorities is what it would mean if the Stockholmers had to be evacuated.

- The bigger the city and the more people, the harder it is to know where people are going. It is a reality we live with and we must prepare as best we can on the basis that it would be a sharp situation. All of Sweden has had a low preparation for this. But now we have to tag and get better, that's why we practice, says Sven-Erik Österberg.