Garachico to conduct volcanic emergency drill
This Friday, September 26th, the historic town of Garachico will experience a volcanic emergency alert situation. While this will only be a drill, it serves as a crucial test of the islands’ preparedness. Approximately 200 people will be evacuated from the area around the old pier, a zone that was severely affected by the massive Trevejo eruption in 1706.
Island-wide alert system test
Although the simulation is centered on Garachico, the entire island of Tenerife should be prepared for the test. Mobile phones across the island will receive alerts via the national ES-Alert system, similar to tests conducted in October and in other parts of the Canary archipelago. The primary goal is to strengthen public familiarity with this tool of the National Civil Protection System.
What to expect during the drill
The Coordinating Center for Emergencies and Security (CECOES) 112 will send three test alert messages to mobile phones between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. You will receive the alert at the moment it is sent or as soon as your phone enters an area with network coverage if you are outside one at the time. Phones that are switched off or in airplane mode will not receive the message.
It is vital that drivers do not panic upon receiving the alert. Instead, they should safely pull over to read the emergency message and press ‘accept’. Once accepted, the message will disappear from the screen. If you have elderly relatives, it is advisable to explain the purpose of this drill beforehand to prevent unnecessary alarm.
How the ES-Alert system works
The alert message will be received in English if your mobile phone is set to a language other than Spanish. Nearly all mobile phones with a data connection are capable of receiving these civil protection alerts when properly configured. You only need to have the “receive alerts” option activated. For most modern phones, this is already the default setting. Terminals with Android version 11 or higher, or iOS version 15.6 or higher, have this option enabled by default. If your device has an older operating system, you can check how to activate it via this link: https://www.112canarias.com/112/sistema-es-alert/.
All 4G and 5G mobile devices within the coverage area will receive a text message with the word ‘TEST’ (PRUEBA), accompanied by a beep and vibration. After reading the message and pressing ‘Accept’, it will disappear. There is no need to reply to the message or call 112.
A vital tool for Canarian safety
This new tool of the National Civil Protection System is already operational in the Canary Islands and was used during the recent forest fires on La Palma and Tenerife. To ensure optimal performance, these tests are conducted periodically across the archipelago to familiarize the population with the process. The ES-Alert system allows authorities to send immediate warnings in case of disasters like fires, floods, volcanic eruptions, or adverse weather events. It requires no app installation or registration, directly providing citizens in affected areas with self-protection instructions. It is an additional warning channel that complements traditional methods like evacuation notices, media broadcasts, social media, and loudspeaker announcements. All information about the ES-Alert system is available on the 112 Canarias website.
