"If you were anywhere near Barcelona at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 3, you probably jumped out of your skin when your phone suddenly started buzzing. You weren't alone. More than five million mobile phones across Catalonia received the same loud, startling message - a mass emergency alert test carried out by the Generalitat's Civil Protection department ( Protecció Civil). The alert, part of Spain's ES-Alert public warning system, reached people in Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Maresme, Vallès Occidental and Vallès Oriental, making it the largest drill ever conducted by the Catalan government. Even those just passing through on a motorway or train heard their devices blare the familiar emergency tone."
"The message - sent simultaneously in Catalan, Spanish and English - was clear but harmless: "Civil Protection of the Government of Catalonia alert test. In a real emergency, you would receive instructions to protect yourself." For a few minutes, social media was flooded with startled posts, memes and screenshots as users compared reactions to the sudden alarm. While some joked about the 'heart attack' it caused, others praised the initiative for raising awareness of how the alert system works."
"According to the Generalitat, the test aimed to familiarise citizens with the ES-Alert system and check that everything worked properly. The idea was simple - if a real emergency struck, residents should instantly recognise the alert and know to follow instructions. Officials say the test went "smoothly and effectively""
On November 3 at 10 a.m., more than five million mobile phones across Catalonia received a loud emergency alert sent by the Generalitat's Civil Protection. The ES-Alert message was transmitted simultaneously in Catalan, Spanish and English to people in Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Maresme, Vallès Occidental and Vallès Oriental. Commuters on motorways and trains heard the alarm. Social media filled with startled posts, memes and screenshots; reactions ranged from jokes about induced 'heart attacks' to praise for increased awareness. The exercise was monitored from the Catalonia Operational Coordination Centre (CECAT), and officials reported it ran smoothly and effectively.
Read at Euro Weekly News
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