Newsroom
If your phone lights up with a warning message on Monday afternoon, don’t be alarmed; it’s only a test.
The Civil Defence Force announced that the final scheduled test of Cyprus’ CY-Alert Population Early Warning System will take place nationwide on Monday, June 15, between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
This time, the exercise will simulate a kidnapping or missing person incident, allowing authorities to test how the system works under real operating conditions.
The notification will clearly state “TEST – TEST – TEST” or “EXERCISE – EXERCISE – EXERCISE” and does not relate to a real emergency. Unlike some emergency alerts that come with a loud, attention-grabbing sound, today’s test will be sent silently to avoid causing unnecessary concern or interrupting people’s daily routines.
For many Cypriots, the message may arrive while they are at work, having lunch, shopping, or going about a normal Monday afternoon, exactly the kind of everyday situation the system is designed for.
CY-Alert is intended to quickly inform the public during serious situations such as natural disasters, dangerous weather events, or other threats where authorities need to reach large numbers of people within seconds.
Civil Defence reminded the public that no action is required when today’s test message appears.
However, citizens who do not receive the notification are encouraged to check whether emergency alerts are enabled in their phone settings. Assistance is available by calling 1450, while step-by-step instructions can also be found through the official Civil Defence social media accounts and the government’s CY-Alert webpage.
Authorities say the tests are an important step in ensuring that when a real emergency happens, the warning reaches people quickly, potentially giving them precious minutes to protect themselves and their loved ones.
