“"In the event of a chemical risk warning, the general self-protection recommendation is to shelter in place, meaning to stay indoors at home or in the nearest building. It is necessary to close doors and windows, turn off air conditioning and ventilation systems, and preferably stay in interior rooms. It should be noted that vehicles are not safe places to take shelter."
Catalonia tests chemical risk sirens on October 19
Civil Protection activates 119 devices simultaneously and sends mobile alerts to check functionality and familiarize the public.
By Pere Roca Soler
••2 min read
AI
Generic image of a municipal building with a balcony and blue sky.
The Directorate General of Civil Protection of the Generalitat de Catalunya will conduct a chemical risk siren test on Monday, October 19, activating for the first time simultaneously the 119 sirens installed throughout Catalonia, including three in Castellbisbal.
The main objective of this drill is to verify the correct operation of the alert devices and ensure that the public is familiar with the warning sounds. In parallel with the siren activation, an alert will be sent to the mobile phones of all citizens within the designated chemical risk zones.
The test will begin at 10:00 AM. Three one-minute signals will be played, separated by brief five-second silences, indicating the start of the simulation. Subsequently, a continuous thirty-second signal will mark the end of the exercise, which is expected to last a maximum of 20 minutes.
The sound of the sirens and mobile alerts may cause discomfort to individuals with noise hypersensitivity. In such cases, the use of noise-canceling headphones is recommended to reduce the intensity of the sound.
If children are in educational centers during a warning, there is no need to pick them up, as these centers are prepared to handle such emergency situations.
For more detailed information on the siren test and self-protection advice in case of chemical risk, please consult the official Civil Protection website.
Based on information from the official source: Ajuntament de Castellbisbal (13/10/2026)



