Cyprus to sound tsunami alerts on phones in nationwide drill
Civil Defence will push test alerts to mobiles along the coast on Tuesday between 11:00 and 15:00 as part of a regional earthquake and tsunami exercise. There is no real threat.
Phones in coastal districts will receive test warnings on Tuesday 10 November, as Cyprus's Civil Defence Force runs the CY-ALERT system during an earthquake and tsunami exercise. The drills run from 11:00 to 15:00, as reported by Cyprus Mail.
Authorities stress that the messages belong to the NEAMWave2026 exercise alone: no emergency exists and residents are not required to respond. Hands tied to the test channel may get several alerts over the four-hour window.
The force says the run-through is meant to verify warning procedures and sharpen how well the services involved are prepared.
What it means for residents
Tuesday's alerts are a rehearsal, so the practical effect for people living near the shore is a noisy phone rather than any danger. Still, the drill is a good moment to check that your device is actually set up to receive official warnings.
- Check your settings. Make sure emergency and test alerts are switched on, so a real message reaches you.
- Don't call emergency numbers. Treat the buzz as routine and leave the lines free for actual incidents.
- Know the coastline risk. Cyprus has recorded tsunamis before, so familiarise yourself with the nearest high ground.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
