When the first RO-ALERT message was sent in Bucharest and what it contained
By Raluca Ogaru
- Articles
The RO-ALERT system has become, in recent years, an important tool for quickly warning the public in emergency situations. Bucharest residents are now accustomed to receiving such notifications on their phones when severe weather events, fires or other risks to public safety occur. However, fewer people remember when the first message was sent in the capital and the context in which this system was introduced.
The first official RO-ALERT test messages in Bucharest were transmitted in July 2019 as part of a broader program designed to verify how the system works in the Bucharest-Ilfov region. These messages did not signal any real danger but were part of a technical testing phase before full operational use.
The first RO-ALERT tests in the capital
The tests were organized by the Bucharest-Ilfov Inspectorate for Emergency Situations between July 16 and July 26, 2019. Their purpose was to check how effectively messages reached the population and whether mobile phones were properly configured to receive such alerts.
Messages were sent gradually across different districts of Bucharest as well as surrounding localities in Ilfov County. Authorities monitored the technical performance of the system and how people reacted to the audible and visual alerts, which can vary depending on the mobile device.
The RO-ALERT message sent at that time
The test message transmitted in Bucharest and Ilfov read:
“TEST! Acesta este un mesaj pentru testarea sistemului RO-ALERT. Nu se impune aplicarea măsurilor de autoprotecţie”
The notification was accompanied by the specific alert sound and appeared automatically on compatible phones. Authorities clarified that its purpose was strictly technical and informational.
The role of the RO-ALERT system today
The RO-ALERT system has been operational nationwide since 2018 and is used to quickly warn the population about major risks. The most common situations in which alerts are issued include:
- severe weather events;
- fires or large smoke emissions;
- floods or flash floods;
- dangerous wild animals spotted in populated areas;
- other emergencies affecting public safety.
These notifications provide real-time information so people can take protective measures.
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Why test messages are important
Periodic system tests help verify technical performance and familiarize the public with the alert signal. Authorities recommend keeping RO-ALERT notifications enabled on mobile phones, as they may be crucial in situations requiring rapid response.
Several years after the first tests in Bucharest, the system is now integrated into civil protection mechanisms, and RO-ALERT messages have become a common way of informing the public in emergencies.
