The Minister of the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue, and Administrative Simplification, Antonio Sanz, chaired the Advisory Committee of the Territorial Emergency Plan of Civil Protection of Andalusia (Pteand), together with the Mayor of Almonte, Francisco Bella, and the President of the Provincial Council of Huelva, David Toscano. The meeting took place at the Huelva Business Federation in the capital.
During the meeting, which was attended by officials from all administrations involved in the Plan Romero 2025, it was stated that everything is ready for the activation of the 41st edition of the Plan Romero on June 2nd. The Plan will be active until June 12th to prevent risks and address any emergencies that may arise during the Romería del Rocío and its central events.
Antonio Sanz highlighted that this year the coordination will be led by the new Andalusian Emergency Agency (EMA), «the most important in Spain in terms of training, human resources, and material resources.» He also mentioned that despite the challenge of innovating and introducing new capabilities in an operation with such an impressive track record as the Plan Romero, an international benchmark with 41 years of history, significant innovations have been introduced such as drone nests through a pilot project, new coordination cameras and satellite cameras, pocket maps and cartographic viewers for operatives, and the new Emergency Web Platform for Citizens.
Among the new additions, drone nests stand out, a pilot project carried out in collaboration with Telefónica Spain for this Rocío. These nests or boxes contain the latest drone units that self-recharge and are programmed to fly periodically, with the necessary permissions, and transmit images directly to the Advanced Command Post, without the need for drone pilots. These are high-autonomy flight devices that, thanks to the implementation of 5G, transmit on a specific segment for emergencies.
The Plan Romero has been using drone technology for several years as a safety element that provides greater operational efficiency in general. There are up to seven units with thermal cameras, speakers, and lighting, and the addition of this new pilot project is another example of how new applications are being developed for safety and emergency coordination in large gatherings.
Regarding their location, nests will be available at both the Advanced Command Post (PMA) in Villamanrique de la Condesa, in Seville, and the PMA in Bajo de Guía, in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, and in the village of El Rocío, Almonte, Huelva.
Additionally, the Emergency Agency will deploy coordination cameras for the first time at the Coria ferry crossing in Seville, Las Marismillas, and Doñana to increase monitoring and security at these significant points. The incorporation of satellite cameras is also highlighted within this technological chapter.
The Minister of the Presidency emphasized the importance of quickly addressing any incidents that may arise and detailed the characteristics of a new tool, digital and printed ‘pocket maps’, which have sectorized the village’s cartography to allow for timely and precise attention to any urgent needs. This tool is made available to all operatives to facilitate locations. By being used by all personnel, there is no room for doubt, as the incident is tagged in a specific grid. «This makes us more precise and saves time in response.»
New Emergency Web Platform for Citizens
Another tool that will be launched coinciding with the activation of the Plan Romero is the Emergency Web Platform for Citizens, a project that is part of the implementation phase of Pigea (Andalusia’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Platform) and is starting to come to light with EMA 112’s web platform, which will provide information on recommendations, tips, guides, latest news, specific sections for major emergencies, ‘Es-Alert,’ or emergency maps, among other resources.
«The Plan Romero comes with more technology and information for the population,» announced Antonio Sanz, explaining that this tool will complement existing ones such as the Plan Romero app and its conversational assistant, which will continue to operate.
Also new are the REJA (Andalusian Digital Emergency Network) dispatch units at all Advanced Command Posts and the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) in the village: «On January 22 of this year, we activated this tool throughout the region, which is the most significant in its category in Europe in terms of radio communications.»
Another innovation, in terms of operations and planning the routes of the brotherhoods, refers to the paths in Seville, as a new one for mechanical traction has been opened from Palacio del Rey to the Fresa Road (starting about 200 meters after the Palacio, and going on the other side of the mesh that separates the Raya Real from Finca Noguera).
These seven kilometers will allow for smoother transit of mechanical traction vehicles heading directly to the Fresa Road from the Palacio exit, reducing interaction with pilgrims and thereby increasing safety and protection in the area.
In the same vein, the available surface area in the camping areas of Cruz del Ponce has been tripled.
As it is a jubilee year, the pontifical mass will be particularly special and more massive, so a reduced Advanced Command Post will be set up in the morning to address potential emergencies. In the afternoon, as usual, the Advanced Coordination Post and Health Post will be deployed within the Hermitage operation.
«As you can see, there are nearly a dozen innovations aimed at enhancing an operation where the greatest asset lies in the people, in the over 7,000 operatives who dedicate their time each year to ensure that the Pentecost celebration shines on its own worldwide. I want to thank all the men and women who will be working on the deployment and are the best guarantee for the success of the Plan Romero,» stated the Minister of the Presidency.
The Plan Romero also maintains everything that has worked well and yielded good results in previous editions, such as the COA (Crowd Control) system, which uses intelligent Wifi technology for crowd control and flow management. Knowing the crowds at each point and time allows for tailored responses to each specific situation, optimizing resources and response times.
The ‘Es-Alert’ for mass sending messages to mobile phones and the advanced mobile phone location system (AML) are other tools that continue to be prioritized in this Rocío, given their usefulness in responding to emergencies.
The pilgrimage will remain ‘cardioprotected’ thanks to the Automatic Defibrillators (DEA) provided by the Plan Romero to all brotherhoods.
High Risk of Forest Fires
In this edition, the Rocío takes place entirely during a high-risk period for forest fires, so the operation will pay special attention and be reinforced each day with 195 EMA Infoca specialists.
In the Plan Romero’s area of influence, there will be three helicopters and three airplanes: a transport and extinction helicopter in Madroñalejos, another in Cabezudos, and another in Valverde del Camino in Huelva. Additionally, there will be two ground-loading planes at the Las Arenas base in Niebla, Huelva, and a coordination plane at the Seville Airport.
Regarding land resources, there will be 17 surveillance posts, three support groups, eight fire engines, two BRICA teams, 15 specialist groups, and five operations technicians.
The Plan Romero will also provide fire extinguishers to all brotherhoods to immediately address any potential fires.
Antonio Sanz expressed his gratitude to the Matriz Brotherhood and its subsidiaries for their cooperation in security matters, and urged pilgrims once again to avoid risks in order to combine celebration and safety.
Health Device
The Plan’s health group, composed of the Andalusian Health Service and the 061 Emergency Health Center, will deploy 13 care posts, eight mobile and five fixed, six in Seville, four in Huelva, and three in Cádiz.
In Huelva, they will be deployed at Camino de Moguer, La Matilla-Tres Rayas, Camino de Los Llanos, Camino de los Tarajales, and Camino de Hinojos, while in Seville, they will be located in Bormujos, Aznalcázar, Marlo-El Quema, Villamanrique, both at the square and at the Command Post and Palacio del Rey. In Cádiz, they will be deployed in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Marismillas Palace, and Doñana Palace.
The health operation will have access to a medicalized helicopter and 31 vehicles: six mobile ICUs, two basic life support ambulances, four transport and evacuation units in all-terrain vehicles, two 4×4 ambulances, four conventional ambulances, two logistical support vehicles with the capacity to care for up to 50 people each, a coordination all-terrain vehicle, two additional all-terrain support vehicles, a health environmental support vehicle, two vans, an immediate intervention vehicle, and four ‘quads.’
The health personnel will work in 12-hour care shifts, with 180 shifts for emergency doctors, six pediatricians, 12 traumatologists, and another 12 in intensive care, 15 radiology technician shifts, 182 nursing shifts, 120 061 Emergency Health technicians, 132 externally contracted staff, and 37 nursing assistants.
As in previous years, Health Centers in Almonte and Matalascañas will be reinforced, along with the El Rocío Clinic. In the village, the Main Care Center, known as the ‘Village Hospital,’ will be deployed from Wednesday, offering general medicine and pediatric consultations, a radiology and ultrasound unit, a blood unit, and an observation unit.
The National Police Unit attached to the autonomous community will contribute 71 officers who will be involved in environmental protection, consumer affairs, assistance to individuals, child welfare, animal protection, and collaboration with national law enforcement agencies.
New Cecopi for 2026
The Minister also mentioned that the 112 and EMA’s GREA personnel will attend and coordinate actions at the Command Posts and Cecopi, which will be the last year at the Casa de la Cultura, as construction of the new Cecopi is progressing rapidly and will be completed before the year ends. The new headquarters will be ready in 2026, a special year for the Virgin’s devotion, as in addition to the Pilgrimage and the Pentecost celebration, the traditional transfer of the Virgin to Almonte will take place on August 19th.
At the event, the Minister of the Presidency was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue, and Administrative Simplification, Tomás Burgos, the Interior Secretary-General, David Gil, the Government Delegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Huelva, José Manuel Correa, the Government Delegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Cádiz, Mercedes Colombo, the Government Delegate of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Seville, Ricardo Sánchez, and the Director-General of Emergencies and Civil Protection and Forest Firefighting, Alejandro García.
