Catalonia issues five emergency mobile alerts in storm-hit January

January in Catalonia was marked by storms, heavy rain, and snowfall, prompting Civil Protection to activate the ES-Alert mobile warning system five times in just one week.

Between January 18 and 24, authorities sent out emergency alerts urging residents to take protective measures as extreme weather battered large parts of the country.

Civil Protection said the surge reflects both the exceptional meteorological conditions and the growing reliance on ES-Alert as a key public safety tool.

The five ES-Alerts in January warned residents about coastal storms, river flooding, and heavy snow, marking the system's first use for snowfall.

Speaking to the Catalan News Agency (ACN), Imma Solé, deputy operational director of Civil Protection, said the system has become firmly established since its launch in February 2023.

In 2025, a total of 59 alerts were issued for real risk situations, nearly double the 36 sent in 2024. A further 16 alerts were issued for drills and tests.

ES-Alert allows authorities to send direct messages to mobile phones in affected areas, complementing sirens, traditional media and social networks.

Solé said it can be used for "any risk or warning" because it helps people "take extra precautions and adopt safety measures if necessary."

"It is used when there is a situation that could be harmful to people’s lives or health and citizens need to take precautions, confine themselves indoors or evacuate a place where there is risk," she said.

Civil Protection is currently working on a new type of pre-alert ES-Alert, with a softer sound designed for preventive situations where there is no immediate danger.