A las 10:00 a.m. this MondayThe Generalitat will activate a mass testing of the notification system mobile phones in the Barcelona region to verify their range and effectiveness in case of real emergencies.
The notice will appear in Catalan, Spanish and English and will be accompanied by a shrill sound which stops when the screen is touched; no action is required nor call 112.
When and where will the alert sound?
The exercise will be done on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and will include mobile phones that are in the Barcelona, ​​Baix Llobregat, Maresme, Vallès Occidental and Vallès OrientalThat is, throughout the entire district of Barcelona.
The message will be received by both residents and people passing through—by road or rail—since the delivery is made depending on the antenna coverage activated and not by addresses.
The signal is broadcast indiscriminately to terminals within the broadcast area and prioritizes its delivery over other communications to ensure rapid reception.
If there is no interaction, the notification may remain visible and alert-like. for about ten minutes before automatically expiring.
- The phone must be on and with coverage to receive the alert.
- The system does not count how many terminals They receive it.
- The affected area is approximate and it depends on the active antenna.
- Even if the mobile phone is in silenceThe alert will sound.
- Platform prioritize the notice versus other communications.
How ES-Alert works and what it is used for
ES-Alert is based on cell broadcast, a technology that sends messages to specific geographic areas without identifying users or their lines; the system does not collect personal data.
Its activation is reserved for serious emergencies in which the Civil Protection authority must provide immediate instructions: confinement by chemical accidents, episodes of floods or big forest fires, among others.
So far this year, in the Barcelona region, the following have been reported eight notices Through this method: four drills, two under the INFOCAT plan for a fire in Terrassa and two under the INUNCAT plan due to heavy rains, such as Flood risk warning.
What to do upon receiving the notification
When the tone sounds, simply read the message and tap the button indicated on the screen to stop the sound; in a real situation, it would be advisable follow the instructions that are indicated.
- No call 112 During the test, the line must remain clear for real emergencies.
- You need to avoid the alert, put your phone in airplane mode or turn it off temporarily (some models may still sound the warning).
- The tone can be reduced with the Volume button, as if it were a phone call.
Citizen participation and evaluation
Following the drill, the Generalitat will set up a anonymous online survey so that citizens can indicate if they received the notice, in what language and with which telephone company.
Given that the system does not automatically verify The delivery, the collaboration will provide useful data to adjust coverage, languages ​​and technical performance without collecting personal information.
Context and recent background in Catalonia
Periodic tests aim to improve protocols and reliability after incidents detected in recent episodes —such as the DANA or heavy rains— and criticisms for delays or insufficient coverage in some areas.
Institutional officials, such as the Government Delegation and the Civil Protection Directorate, emphasize that these trials serve to provide a a more robust and sooner system and so that the citizens familiarize yourself with the message before a real emergency.
A las 10: 00 pm A clear, multilingual signal will be activated in Barcelona and surrounding areas to check reception times, terminal behavior and social response, reinforcing a key tool for public safety.