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Diari de Catalunya

First ES-Alert System Test in the Area of Vandellòs II Nuclear Power Plant

The drill, coordinated by the Spanish government's sub-delegation in Tarragona, sent alert messages to several municipalities near the facility.

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.

This Monday, the first test of the ES-Alert system was carried out in the influence area of the Vandellòs II nuclear power plant, sending alert messages to residents' mobile phones.

The test, which began at 11:12 AM, covered a ten-kilometer radius around the plant, affecting municipalities such as Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, Mont-roig del Camp, Pratdip, l'Ametlla de Mar, and Tivissa. Although the objective was to verify coverage in these localities included in the emergency plan, the alert also reached other nearby towns.
The messages received on mobile devices, initially in Spanish and shortly after in Catalan, clearly indicated that it was a coverage test and that no action was required. This initiative, managed by the State Emergency Monitoring and Coordination Center (CENEM) at the request of the Spanish government's sub-delegation in Tarragona, represents the first drill with this mobile alert system in the vicinity of nuclear power plants in Catalonia.
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"The messages have reached all populations, although we now need to receive the report from the telecommunications company to get the details."

the Spanish government's sub-delegate in Tarragona
The sub-delegate noted that once the reports from telecommunications companies are received, it will be possible to accurately determine if there have been "dark zones" without coverage. Should any dysfunctions be detected, necessary corrective measures will be taken. This test responds to a historical demand from the PENTA I municipalities in Catalonia, who called for an improvement in alert systems.
The leadership of the Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant town council rated the test "very positively," emphasizing the importance of ensuring there are no areas without coverage. They recalled that during a blackout a year ago, some of these "dark zones" were detected and needed to be resolved. They also requested that these drills be carried out more frequently and that the public be informed on how to act in the event of a radiological accident. The sub-delegation has indicated that a drill with citizen participation is planned, though without a specific date.
The sub-delegate clarified that the drill was not conducted due to a report from the Síndica de Greuges de la Generalitat, which warned that 55% of municipalities at nuclear risk have not approved their Municipal Nuclear Emergency Action Plan (PAMEN). She stressed that the test was necessary and that similar drills are carried out at other nuclear power plants in Spain, with the Ascó nuclear power plant scheduled for Wednesday.

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