The 8th International Congress on Disasters concluded here today with participants from 38 countries claiming for even more time to exchange experiences.

The forum was unique because it provided an approach to models of prevention needed in Paraguay, said Pablino Caceres, Paraguayan secretary of social action.

Col. Miguel Angel Puig, head of the Department of Operations of the Cuban Civil Defense General Staff, said the congress provided an opportunity for discussing disaster risk reduction.

The massive turnout, with more than 350 experts and authorities, and the experiences related to the whole cycle of disaster reduction provided a positive net balance, Puig said.

The official affirmed the success of the meeting for the breadth of topics addressed, and announced preparations for the next congress, in four years.

During the forum, the eighth since 1987, the 4th International Conference of Firefighters was held in parallel, with an emphasis on the modernization of crews and technological equipment, as well as environmental protection and the training of human resources.

As part of this, participants viewed a simulated response to an imaginary earthquake on Havana's north coast, and measures to protect tourists in an imaginary hotel fire.