Bangkok, January 16th, 2026— The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has announced that it will carry out the first nationwide test of Thailand’s Cell Broadcast emergency alert system on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. (14:00 hrs).
The test will send an automatic alert to compatible mobile phones across all 76 provinces and Bangkok, reaching millions of users simultaneously. Authorities are urging the public not to panic, stating that the notification, which includes an attention-grabbing 8-second alert sound and a pop-up message on the screen, is strictly a system test and does not indicate any actual emergency or disaster.
Theerapat Katchamat, Director-General of the DDPM, explained that the Cell Broadcast system has been developed together with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and major mobile network providers. It is designed to deliver critical emergency warnings directly to mobile devices in affected areas without relying on individual phone numbers, making it highly effective for large-scale disasters.
The system underwent several phased trials throughout 2025, including tests at building, district, and provincial levels. It has already been deployed in real-world scenarios, such as flood warnings in the North and South, security-related alerts along the Thai-Cambodian border, and public health notifications related to PM2.5 air pollution.
This nationwide exercise will simulate a national-level emergency alert intended for situations impacting multiple regions simultaneously, allowing authorities to verify the system’s reach, reliability, and performance on a countrywide scale.
Important Compatibility Note
Only smartphones running iOS version 18 or Android version 11 (or higher) will receive the Cell Broadcast alerts. Users with older devices may not experience the test notification.
The DDPM has stressed that no action is required from the public upon receiving the test alert. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Thailand’s disaster preparedness and public warning capabilities.
For more information, visit the official DDPM channels or website. Stay calm and informed, this is only a test!
Pictures: Stock photos of hypothetical situations that would have a real alert sent in certain areas.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
