Don’t panic: Blaring phone alerts hit Thailand in disaster drill
Nationwide trial aims to boost real-time response before the next big quake or storm strikes
Don’t panic if your phone blares out an emergency alert this week—it’s not the end of the world, just a test.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is stepping up its game in disaster preparedness with a nationwide trial of its Cell Broadcast warning system. The tests, rolled out in three phases across May, aim to ensure the country is ready to alert the public instantly in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.
The second test kicks off today, May 7, at 1pm, covering five district-level locations: Mueang districts in Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surat Thani, and Din Daeng in Bangkok. Residents in these areas, and even nearby, will receive a loud 8–10 second alert on their phones with the following message:
“This is a test message from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM). No action required.”
(Thai: “ทดสอบแจ้งเตือนภัย Cell Broadcast จากกรมป้องกันและบรรเทาสาธารณภัย (ปภ.) โปรดอย่าตื่นตระหนก”)
Officials stress this is only a test, and the alert won’t include any clickable links or require action. The public is advised not to be alarmed.
The first test, conducted on May 2, focused on provincial halls and nearby buildings in Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, Songkhla, and Bangkok’s Government Complex Chaeng Watthana. The final and largest test will happen on May 13, covering entire provinces including Chiang Mai, Udon Thani, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Bangkok.
The Cell Broadcast system will categorise alerts into three types: national alerts, emergency alerts, and amber alerts. Earthquake warnings will be dispatched directly by the Meteorological Department and DDPM, while flood and storm alerts will involve coordination between the DDPM, the NBTC, and Thailand’s three major telecom operators.
Waroonthep Watcharaporn from AIS hailed the test as a “significant advancement” in keeping the public safe. True’s Chakkrit Urairat echoed the sentiment, pointing to recent earthquakes in Krabi and other regions as reminders of why fast, reliable alerts are crucial, reported Amarin TV and Bangkok Post.
Meanwhile, the NBTC is exploring ways to integrate emergency warnings into digital TV broadcasts—potentially launching a dedicated disaster alert channel.
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