New emergency alert system will be tested at 3pm on 23 April
The UK’s new emergency alert system will be tested on Sunday, 23 April.
The government has confirmed around 90% of all mobile phone users will receive a loud alert accompanied by a vibration at 15:00 BST on the test day.
The alert tests a new “life-saving” system that will warn people about extreme weather events such as major fires and floods.
The system will be localised so only those at risk will get an alert and the government has stressed that it will be only be deployed for the most severe emergencies.
Minister Oliver Dowden says the bar has been set “exceptionally high” to prevent mobile phone users from being spammed with messages.
The first alert will be sent on a Sunday afternoon and will last for ten seconds.
People will have to interact with the message by swiping it away or clicking okay before using their phones again for other functions.
The government opted for a 3pm test after fears it would alarm thousands of football supporters at Wembley, where the second FA Cup semi-final will take place at 4.30pm.
While the system is designed for the greater good, domestic abuse charities have warned that it is likely to alert abusers to concealed devices.
Refuse is among the charities advising vulnerable people on how to switch the alerts off, which is possible even though the government is hoping most people keep them turned on.
Similar emergency systems have been successfully deployed in other countries, including the United States and Japan.