The chemical risk drill held by Civil Protection on Wednesday was a success. The Catalan Interior Minister, Joan Ignasi Elena, praised the drill in Tarragona and the Ebro area. Civil Protection reported that from 11:00 “all the sirens” sounded —49 in Tarragona and 2 in the Ebro area— and that the mobile phone messages were also received. It was the first time sirens and mobile alerts had both been activated in a drill. Elena also pledged that before the end of the year a “24/7” technician would be based at the 112 building in Reus to manage PLASEQTA and trigger both systems locally in a real emergency.
For 15 minutes —from 11:00 to 11:15— the alarms sounded telling people to shelter in place, and an alert was also sent to every mobile phone in the area. People did not have to shelter during the test, although anyone who wished was encouraged to practise and remember the basic advice for a chemical accident: stay inside the building and close doors and windows. This is how the siren sounded in parts of Tarragona.
via @elnacional.cat
