Nicosia, Cyprus. A test emergency SMS sent to Cyprus residents on Wednesday evening resulted in delays, inconsistencies, and language confusion, Civil Defence spokesperson Panayiotis Liasidis said on Thursday.
Timing and delivery issues
Liasidis said some people received the message before 7pm, others around 7pm as stipulated by the government, and some much later, while others received no messages.
Language confusion
He said there was confusion over the language of the alert, with some non-Greek speakers receiving the message in Greek.
Context for the test
The test run took place against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran and Monday’s drone attack on the British base in Akrotiri.
Temporary measure and June rollout
Liasidis clarified that the messages were a temporary measure and not part of the full early warning system, which will be rolled out in June. He added that future alerts in real incidents will contain short, clear instructions for immediate self-protection.
Tests paused and evaluation underway
The interior ministry has ceased further test messages until the island’s full rollout of an early warning system is activated in June. A technical evaluation is underway by the deputy research ministry and telecommunications providers to identify and resolve issues, including delays and incorrect links.
Links and internet access
The messages included links requiring internet access, intended to direct residents to the ministry’s website for additional instructions.
Officials’ comments
Liasidis said the situation highlighted areas for improvement and stressed that residents should follow guidance from authorities in emergencies. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou said on Wednesday that the SMS system is “a preventive measure and an important tool for immediate and valid information of residents”.
Did you receive the test emergency SMS on Wednesday evening?
