Nuclear Emergency Drill with ES-Alert in Ascó Area

The test of the mass mobile alert system will be activated on Wednesday, April 29, in municipalities near the nuclear power plant.

Image of a mobile phone displaying an emergency alert with a nuclear power plant in the background.
IA

Image of a mobile phone displaying an emergency alert with a nuclear power plant in the background.

On Wednesday, April 29, a nuclear emergency drill will be conducted in the area of the Ascó power plant, in Ribera d'Ebre, to verify the operation of the ES-Alert mass notification system on mobile phones.

This initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Interior, marks the first time the ES-Alert system has been activated for a nuclear emergency in the region. Previously, tests had been carried out for fires, floods, or chemical risks. The test message will be sent at 11 AM and will last approximately five minutes.
The municipalities that will receive the alert are Ascó, Corbera d'Ebre, el Molar, Flix, Garcia, la Figuera, la Fatarella, la Palma d'Ebre, la Torre de l'Espanyol, Móra d'Ebre, Móra la Nova, Riba-roja d'Ebre, and Vinebre. The notification will reach all connected devices within a 10-kilometer radius of the plant, although, for technical reasons related to mobile phone antennas, it could extend beyond the designated area.
The message displayed on phones will clearly indicate that it is a test and not a real emergency. Therefore, there will be no need to contact the 112 emergency number or take any special action. This drill will not affect the normal operation of educational or healthcare centers.
The preparation for this exercise has been coordinated by the Spanish government's sub-delegation in Tarragona, with the collaboration of Civil Protection and the involved municipalities. This test is part of a series of drills to be conducted between April 24 and May 13 in various nuclear zones across Spain, including the power plants of Trillo (Guadalajara), Almaraz (Cáceres), Santa María de Garoña (Burgos), and Cofrentes (Valencian Community), affecting a total of 75,000 inhabitants in 61 municipalities.