An ear-piercing sound coming from your phone that can’t be turned off- Should you be alarmed? Here is everything you need to know about the Spanish emergency alarm and what to do if and when you receive it.
As the heavy rain season approaches in Spain, we might be subject to weather warnings. If you haven’t already heard it, there is an alarm which turns on on your phone to everyone in the affected area, when the government believes it is safer to remain in your house due to dangerous weather conditions. In Spain, the alarm was introduced in 2023. It is a high-pitched noise designed to surprise and wake-up, which comes alongside a warning message from the government explaining the situation and emergency numbers if needed. The alarm goes off on all mobiles, no matter what phone, number, VPN, address, data and connection. It is not a usual Whatsapp or SMS.
One of its first and most famous uses was during the DANA, the flash flooding in Valencia in 2024, when the alarm famously was set off late, failing to alert people with enough time of the dangerous situation. Since then, warnings have been sent out a lot prior to avoid further losses and dangers. The warning can be used for different weather phenomena although the most common is rain and flooding.
Recently, it went off in La Costa del Sol area due to heavy rain. If you hear this alarm, don’t panic, just stay inside, be safe and await further updates.
