PUBLISHED : 20 Jan 2026 at 04:39

NEWSPAPER SECTION: News

A nationwide test of the Cell Broadcast emergency alert system will be conducted today (Tuesday) at 2pm, with residents being advised not to panic if their mobile phones emit loud warning tones, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

The BMA announced via its official Facebook page that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) will conduct the alert exercise.

The test will trigger an automatic alert lasting about eight seconds, displaying the text: "This is a test message from Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), not a real situation. No action required."

Officials stressed that this is not an emergency but a system test to enhance public safety, urging people to inform family members, the elderly, and those nearby to avoid any alarm.

The BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Director Suriyachai Rawiwan said the test will cover all 76 provinces and Bangkok simultaneously. It follows several trial runs last year, with improvements made to address issues identified previously.

The exercise will also assess how different mobile networks and phone models respond to the alerts, simulating conditions similar to earthquake warnings. Residents will hear the alarm and see the automatic message regardless of whether their phones are muted, locked, or set to vibration mode.

Mr Suriyachai added that Bangkok has already used the alert system to notify residents about PM2.5 pollution, enabling timely precautions and the avoidance of hazardous areas.

Tuesday’s test aims to further strengthen readiness for large‑scale emergencies.