The goal is to check the sirens work properly and make members of the public familiar with the sound. The aim of the alert system is to warn the population in the vulnerable area as soon as possible of an industrial accident, so that they can adopt the pre-established measures or evacuation or locking down.

In Barcelona, the drill will only be activated at the port and in the Zona Franca area, but it will also be conducted in surrounding municipalities, in the counties of Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès, Vallès Oriental and Vallès Occidental.

What will the test be like?

In the affected areas, the starting alert will sound, with the end sound to follow once the drill is completed. The starting alert consists of three one-minute signals, separated by five-second silences, while the end tone consists of a continuous 30-second tone.

Members of the public within hearing range of the sirens will also get an alert on their mobile phones at the start of the drill. The location of the sirens can be found on the Civil Protection of Catalonia map.

A brief survey will be carried out to assess the siren test and whether people receive the mobile alert in the areas in question. The survey will be active from the same Wednesday and can be answered from any phone, anonymously, without giving any personal data.