A MOCK earthquake hit Caerwent last week as a disaster relief charity team undertook an intense week-long search and rescue training exercise.

Fourteen volunteers from all walks of life including a lorry driver, firefighter and circus rigger, took part in the exercise at Caerwent Training Area which simulated devastation from a real-life earthquake.

The team had to rescue more than 10 mock earthquake victims from mines, rubble and collapsed buildings.

International charity Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters (SARAID) set up the scenario as a refresher course for current members and a test for trainee members.

The Bristol-based team members have worked on overseas missions including the 2004 Sri Lanka tsunami, and the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, as well as the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake in which more than 100,000 people died.

Operational team member and fundraising officer Gary Jacobs said the conditions set up at the Caerwent Training Area, the former RAF facility, were the nearest match as possible to being on a real mission.

He said the team, which worked through the night from Monday , September 15 to Saturday, September 20, had to ‘rescue’ two of their own members after a simulated aftershock caused more collapse.

He said: “The training team had ensured that there were many twists and turns to make sure that all the skills were put to the test and so casualties had a number of injuries, including broken arms and legs.”

The volunteers already train for around 30 hours a month in a number of skills including entering collapsed buildings, using sound detection equipment, carrying stretchers, first aid and shoring unstable structures.

Mr Jacobs said: “By the end of Saturday the team were tired but had completed the mission.

“After a lengthy clean up of the kit and some sleep it will be back to normal life until next month, or possibly for real if another disaster strikes in the meantime.”

The SARAID team, which has more than 35 members, also helps with flood work both abroad and in the UK. and helped victims in Gloucester in 2007 and Surrey in 2014.

The charity is funded by donations. are all trained and ready to leave for overseas at a moments notice.