Warning sirens went off in Bavaria, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia on Thursday morning. The loud announcements and cell phone notifications were part of a test of state-wide alarm systems.
On Thursday morning, March 12th, air sirens went off in cities across Bavaria, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia.
According to authorities, various systems were to be tested. These included alerts sent to residents cell phones, for example.
Most test alarms went off at 11am or shortly after. In some regions tests were scheduled as early as 10am.
According to media reports, all devices with reception should have received a message via mobile communications.
An alert received in Bavaria had the header, “Extreme threat”.
The text below continued: “TEST ALERT for Bayern…There is no danger…”
It included a link to further information at the warnung.bund.de website where further information on all official alarms, including tests, can be found.
Bavaria’s Interior Minister had recently said in an interview with “Bayern 2” radio that these tests are especially important now, citing increased tensions in international security.
But Germany’s warning system is not only intended to warn against conflict or terror incidents, but also for civil and natural disasters.
Germany also has a nationwide ‘warning day’ (Warntag) every year, which usually takes place on the second Thursday in September. This year the nationwide warning day is set for September 10th.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thelocal.de
