Estonia to Sound Nationwide Sirens in Emergency Alert Test on Wednesday
Estonia will hold a nationwide test of its EE-ALARM public warning system on 14 October, with sirens sounding from 3:00 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. It is the third and last such test this year.
Estonia will carry out a nationwide test of its EE-ALARM public warning system on Wednesday, 14 October. Public sirens will sound across the country between 3:00 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. The aim is to check the system's reliability, verify repairs and updates, and identify any shortfalls.
Residents do not need to do anything during the test. In a real emergency, however, people should seek shelter. An SMS reminder will be sent at around midday.
How people will be alerted
In addition to the sirens, notifications will go out through the Eesti app and the "Ole valmis!" ("Be Prepared") mobile application, and a ticker message will appear on ERR's channels. No notification will be sent when the test ends.
The Rescue Board, Estonia's rescue authority, asks residents to think in advance about where they would shelter at home, at work or at school. A recent survey found that more than two-thirds of Estonian residents would look for the safest place in their home, usually the basement, if told to shelter. Only about a quarter, however, believe they already have such a space at home.
Earlier events
The test follows an accidental siren activation in Muuga on 6 October during routine maintenance work, according to ERR's Russian-language portal.
Wednesday's test is the last of three nationwide tests in 2026. The others took place in March and June. Next year's tests are scheduled for February, June and October 2027.
