The BG-Alert Emergency and Disaster Early Warning System will undergo a nationwide test on Thursday, October 17, after a previous postponement.
The trial will take place between 13:00 and 13:30, with authorities aiming to assess the effectiveness and reliability of the system across the country.
As part of the test, citizens in all regions of Bulgaria will receive a notification on their mobile devices, consisting of a message delivered in both Bulgarian and English.
To ensure the alert captures attention, it will be accompanied by a distinctive sound and vibration. Officials have confirmed that each device is expected to receive the message only once.
The upcoming test forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance the country’s emergency communication capabilities, ensuring that authorities can effectively alert the public in the event of disasters or urgent threats.
By simulating a national emergency warning, the exercise will allow the system’s operators to monitor its performance under real-world conditions.
This will help identify any technical issues or areas for improvement, particularly in terms of message delivery speed, coverage, and user response.
Authorities emphasize that the BG-Alert test will not require any action from the public. Citizens are advised to simply acknowledge the alert and continue their daily activities.
However, they are encouraged to provide feedback regarding the test to help improve the system’s functionality.
Feedback can be submitted through various channels, including online forms and customer service hotlines, which will be made available for the duration of the test.
The BG-Alert system plays a critical role in emergency preparedness, designed to notify the population quickly in the event of natural disasters, industrial accidents, terrorist threats, or other emergencies.
Over the past few years, the system has been continuously developed and refined, incorporating feedback from previous tests and lessons learned from incidents around the world.
The upcoming trial is part of a broader strategy to keep the technology up-to-date and ensure it meets the demands of a modern and connected society.
Past tests have highlighted certain challenges, such as message delivery delays in areas with limited mobile network coverage.
Authorities have since taken steps to address these issues, including collaborating with telecommunications companies to enhance signal strength and investing in new technologies to improve the system’s reliability.
The October 17 test will help determine whether these measures have successfully addressed previous shortcomings.
As part of the trial, officials will also monitor how effectively the alert reaches vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities and those living in remote areas.
Special provisions have been made to ensure that the system can deliver notifications in various formats and languages, thus maximizing accessibility for all citizens.
Authorities hope the upcoming test will reaffirm public confidence in the country’s emergency management infrastructure.
By conducting regular assessments of the BG-Alert system, the government aims to maintain a state of readiness and ensure that, in the event of a real emergency, citizens can be promptly informed and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.
The national test on October 17 marks a crucial step in the ongoing efforts to safeguard public safety and improve Bulgaria’s emergency response capabilities.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members