Poland tests emergency sirens nationwide

Emergency sirens are sounding across Poland on Tuesday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time as part of a nationwide test, the Government Centre for Security (RCB) has said.

A siren in central Warsaw, pictured during tests of the city's modernised public alert system in September 2025.

Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

The drill, codenamed "ALARM-2026", is a routine check of the alert system and its procedures.

The alarm signal takes the form of a modulated sound lasting three minutes, while the all-clear is a continuous three-minute tone.

Sirens may be heard several times over the course of the test.

The RCB said alerts would mark the start and end of the exercise, and urged people not to evacuate or take any other action.

🚨 We wtorek, 21 lipca w godz. 7:00-19:00 w całej Polsce odbędą się ćwiczenia #ALARM2026

📢Będą uruchamiane syreny alarmowe. To planowy test systemów ostrzegania i współpracy służb.

🟧Nie podejmuj działań, nie reaguj🟧#OLiOC pic.twitter.com/Znb19wY3zD

— MSWiA - Ochrona Ludności i Obrona Cywilna (@MSWiA_OLiOC_GOV) July 20, 2026

Poland's public alert system uses sound signals, verbal announcements and a yellow triangle symbol – displayed in public places, on emergency vehicles or in the media – to warn of and later stand down an alarm.

(ał)

Source: PAP, IAR