BANGKOK, Thailand – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) will conduct a nationwide test of the Cell Broadcast emergency alert system on January 20, 2026, at 2 P.M. This test will cover all 76 provinces and Bangkok. The public is advised not to be alarmed, as this is only a system test.
DDPM Director-General Theerapat Kachamat stated that DDPM, through the National Disaster Warning Center, is responsible for disaster alerts and collaborates with relevant agencies. In partnership with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission and mobile network operators, the DDPM developed the Cell Broadcast alert system and conducted three test phases in 2025 at the building, district, and provincial levels. The system has since been used in real situations, including flooding, border security incidents, and PM2.5 pollution alerts.
The January 20 test will be conducted nationwide. Mobile phones will receive an alert sound and automatic message lasting about eight seconds, even if devices are on silent, locked, or set to vibrate. The message will clearly state that it is a test, not a real emergency, in both Thai and English, and will not include any links. No action is required, and the message will disappear automatically.
Cell Broadcast alerts are supported on 4G and 5G mobile phones running iOS 18 or later, or Android 11 or later. The system delivers alerts rapidly and simultaneously without internet access or app downloads, and supports multiple languages and text-to-speech functionality.
The DDPM encourages the public to enable emergency alerts on their mobile devices in advance. (NNT)
