880 of 892 sirens worked in Carinthia test

Some 98.65 percent of sirens in Carinthia worked during Austria’s nationwide civil protection test on Saturday, ORF reported. Of the 892 sirens tested in the state, 12 were not functioning.

The test began at noon, with the “civil protection warning” and “civil protection alarm” signals sounded at 15-minute intervals. The “all clear” signal followed at 12.45pm.

Carinthia has 722 radio-controlled motor sirens, 124 battery-independent SISIPAK units and 46 electronic sirens. The test also included AT-Alert, a public warning system designed to reach people affected by an emergency on their mobile phones.

State Governor and disaster protection chief Daniel Fellner said the annual test was an opportunity for people to check their safety knowledge and prepare for an emergency.