Russia conducted a test of its emergency public warning systems on Wednesday, involving sirens and interruptions to television and radio broadcasts, in order to warn the population to remain calm. This is part of a new initiative that requires tests to be carried out twice a year, starting from September 1. However, this test comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West due to the war in Ukraine.
The test began at around 10:40 a.m. Moscow time and involved sirens sounding and stern announcements demanding attention from everyone. The Ministry of Emergency Situations released a statement urging people to remain calm and stating that when the sirens sound, individuals should turn on a publicly accessible TV or radio channel to listen to the information message.
The purpose of the warning system is to transmit timely signals to the population in the event of a natural or man-made threat or emergency. It aims to assess the readiness of the warning systems and the personnel responsible for launching them, as well as raising public awareness.
In addition to Russia, the United States also conducted a large-scale test of its public warning systems on the same day, utilizing mobile phones and television and radio stations. The goal of the U.S. test is to ensure the effectiveness of alerting the public to emergencies, particularly at a national level.
Various other countries have also conducted tests of alert systems for crises and disasters in recent years. The Russian test coincided with the 91st anniversary of the creation of Russia’s civil defense system and followed nationwide educational drills in August focused on practicing emergency procedures.
The test reflects the ongoing emphasis on assessing emergency readiness and enhancing public safety. The Ministry of Emergency Situations emphasized the importance of remaining calm and avoiding panic when the sirens sound.
Reported by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Edited by Alex Richardson.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
