Brits in Tenerife sent holiday warning as emergency alert to be sent to phones on Friday

Residents and tourists in Tenerife have been warned that their mobile phones will suddenly emit a loud alert tone on Friday (May 15). The Canary Islands Government is set to carry out a new test of its ES-Alert public warning system as part of a large-scale forest fire simulation organised by the Tenerife Cabildo.

Between 8am and 2pm, the archipelago's emergency service, CECOES 112 (Centro Coordinador de Emergencias y Seguridad) will send a test emergency message instructing residents in La Guancha, northern Tenerife, to remain confined indoors, simulating a forest fire. Due to mobile network coverage, the alert tone will be received in municipalities across the north of the island, such as San Juan de la Rambla, higher areas of Icod de los Vinos and La Orotava. In isolated cases, it could even reach parts of southern or south-eastern La Palma.

The message will clearly state that it is a “PRUEBA” (TEST), according to Canarian Weekly.

Any Brits who receive the alert have been urged not to panic, read the message carefully, press "Accept" to make the message disappear and not to call 112. Drivers are advised to pull over safely before reading the message if they are behind the wheel.

Authorities are also encouraging families to explain the test in advance to elderly relatives to avoid unnecessary alarm.

The alert will be received instantly by most users, but it may also arrive when entering coverage if you were previously outside signal range. Phones that are switched off or in aeroplane mode will not receive the message.

Almost all 4G and 5G mobile phones with data connection capability are expected to receive the message if alert notifications are enabled. This includes Android devices (version 11 or later) and iPhones (iOS 15.6 or later). These settings are typically activated by default.

Authorities regularly test the ES-Alert system to ensure it functions correctly and to familiarise the public with how it works. The system has already been used in real emergencies in the Canary Islands, including recent forest fires in Tenerife and La Palma and during Storm Therese, which hit La Gomera and Tenerife.

ES-Alert is designed to provide rapid instructions during major incidents such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions or severe weather, complementing traditional channels such as media announcements, social networks and loudspeaker warnings.