The morning of Wednesday, thousands of Peruvians received a surprising tsunami alert notification on their mobile phones. The message, accompanied by a loud sound and vibration, was issued after the earthquake of magnitude 8.8 registered in Russia on Tuesday, July 29 at 6:24 p.m. (Peruvian time), southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The message was not a mistake. It was an activation of the Early emergency alert messaging system (sismate)a tool implemented in Peru to warn the population against natural disasters or serious emergencies.
How does Sismate work?
Sismate is a cellular diffusion technology (Cell Broadcast) used to send early alert messages to mobile phones, even if they have no balance or are locked. Unlike a common SMS, these messages are characterized by prolonged vibration and a strident sound that is imposed on any other telephone function.
The system operates only when the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) It determines it, and is only activated in specific geographical areas that could be affected. On this occasion, the Directorate of Hydrography and Navigation of the Navy of Peru He issued a Tsunami alert for the Peruvian coast, which triggered the massive sending of the message.
What did the alert say?
“Tsunami alert on the Peruvian coast, stay away from the coastal zone and follow the recommendations of the authorities. Local authorities activate emergency or evacuation protocols by tsunami alert”was the message released at the national level.
Why is this system important?
The main advantage of the Sismate is that it guarantees that the majority of the population receives the warning immediately, even if they are not using their phone actively. In addition, this technology is used in countries such as Chile, Canada and the United Statesand has proven effective to reduce risks in emergency situations.
The recent earthquake in Russia caused not only international concern, but also a practical exercise of the alert system in Peru. The citizens were warned in time and could take precautions, while local authorities activated the established protocols.
