Tenerife to Conduct ES-Alert Public Safety Drill in La Guancha on May 15
The Canary Islands government will conduct a public safety drill in Tenerife on May 15, testing the ES-Alert mobile notification system to ensure residents are prepared for future emergencies.
On May 15, the Canary Islands government will test its ES-Alert public safety system during a forest fire drill in La Guancha, Tenerife. This exercise is designed to help residents become familiar with the emergency notification protocol, which has already proven effective during previous forest fires and severe weather events in the region.
The test will take place between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. During this time, a simulated confinement notification will be sent to mobile phones in the area. While the drill is focused on La Guancha, the signal may also reach nearby towns, including San Juan de la Rambla and parts of Icod de los Vinos and La Orotava. Due to signal propagation, some residents in parts of southern and southeastern La Palma might also receive the alert.
The ES-Alert system is part of the National Civil Protection network and does not require users to register or install any apps. When the alert is sent, phones will emit a loud sound and vibrate. Users simply need to press "accept" to acknowledge the message and clear it from their screen. Please note that phones turned off or in airplane mode will not receive the notification. If you are driving, please pull over safely before checking your device.
Most modern smartphones are compatible with the system. It is enabled by default on devices running Android 11 or higher and iOS 15.6 or later. If you have an older phone, you can find setup instructions at 112canarias.com. The system automatically detects your phone’s language settings and will send the message in English if your device is not set to Spanish.
Authorities are sharing this information in advance to prevent public alarm and suggest that residents—particularly the elderly—be made aware that this is only a test. These drills are a vital part of the islands' emergency response strategy, ensuring that officials can provide clear, real-time instructions to the public during actual disasters.