The Government of the Canary Islands will carry out a new test of the ES-Alert emergency population warning system in Lanzarote next Wednesday, May 29. The test has been programmed by the General Directorate of Emergencies and the Emergency and Security Coordinating Center (CECOES) 112, in collaboration with the Cabildo de Lanzarote and all the municipalities of the island and the General Directorate of Civil Protection of the State.
This warning system, which has already been tested in La Palma, Fuerteventura, El Hierro and in the urban centers of Garachico, in Tenerife, and Valleseco, in Gran Canaria, will be carried out throughout the island. On this occasion, depending on the location of the mobile phone repeaters, the message may also be received in La Graciosa and the coast of La Oliva, in Fuerteventura, as well as by boats passing near the coast of Lanzarote.
The message will be issued from the Emergency and Security Coordinating Center (CECOES) 112, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., so people can receive it at the time of sending or when entering the coverage area of their telephone operator, if they were outside of it. You will not receive it if your phone is turned off or in airplane mode.
Once the message is accepted, it will disappear from the mobile phone screen. In the communication received you can have access to a survey that is of vital importance to know the scope of the test, its effectiveness and have elements that allow us to continue improving the operation of this communication tool.
If you are driving, do not be alarmed. Stop the vehicle in a safe place and once read, press accept. If you know or have elderly relatives, explain to them what this alert system consists of to prevent them from being alarmed. The alert message can also be received in English if the mobile phone is configured in a language other than Spanish.
How it works
Almost all mobile phones with data connection have the ability to receive civil protection alerts when they are configured. It is only necessary to have the option of receiving alerts activated. Terminals with Android operating system version 11 or higher or iOS version 15.6 or higher have this option activated by default. If you have an unupdated version you can consult how to do it, depending on the mobile brand.
These tests are published and disseminated in advance so that the population is aware of them and alarm situations are avoided. All 4G and 5G mobile terminals that are within the coverage area will receive a text message with the word "TEST" with a beep and vibration that, once read and after pressing the word "Accept", will disappear. You do not have to answer or call 112.
Background
This new tool of the National Civil Protection System is already operational in the Canary Islands and has been used in the forest fires of La Palma and Tenerife during the past year. But with the aim of achieving optimal operation of the same, tests are carried out periodically in different parts of the Archipelago so that the population becomes familiar with this system.
It allows to issue alerts in case of catastrophes or emergencies such as fires, floods, volcanic eruptions or adverse weather phenomena, without the need to install any application or register in any site and, in this way, transfer to the citizens of the affected area, instructions for their protection.
It is one more way of warning the population that complements the usual channels such as sending evacuation bulletins, the media, social networks or public address systems. All the information about the ES-Alert system is available on the 112 website.