Severe emergency alerts sent to phones across England and Wales over wildfire risks cause widespread alarm. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces a ban on disposable barbecues, military deployment, and £65m in drought funding for farmers amid record wildfires.
Australia will conduct a national test of its new AusAlert emergency system on Monday, emitting a siren from most phones. The federal government proceeds despite state concerns over landline reach and warnings from domestic violence campaigners for "safe phone" users to power off devices to avoid exposure.
Fast-moving wildfires destroyed two First Nations communities in Ontario, Canada, forcing self-evacuations without government help or emergency alerts. Nearly 2,000 people from 13 communities, mostly First Nations, have been evacuated as leaders accuse the province of disorganization and inadequate support.
Heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding in Shenyang, Liaoning province, leading to school closures, suspended construction, and the shutdown of tourist attractions. In Chengde, Hebei province, roads were destroyed, trapping villagers, with the city still recovering from previous severe weather.
Lulu Gribbin, who survived a shark attack in Florida at 15, inspired 'Lulu's Law,' signed by President Trump, enabling emergency alerts for shark attacks via mobile phones to warn beachgoers.
Brazil's Civil Defense Alert platform sent alarming, nonsensical messages, including warnings of alien attacks and tornadoes, to residents across multiple states overnight. The system was compromised by a third party, leading to a Federal Police investigation and temporary platform shutdown.
Brazil's Civil Defense agency suspects a cyberattack after a false emergency alert was sent nationwide overnight, causing confusion and prompting the suspension of the mobile alert system. The suspicious message, containing the word "misanthropy," was activated remotely, and the Federal Police have been asked to investigate.
Jeju Island experienced over 200mm of rain in two days due to moisture from Typhoon Rose. Udo received an emergency alert for heavy downpours exceeding 50mm per hour. Heavy rain, strong winds, and high waves are expected to continue.
UAE schools and universities await a crucial May 10 announcement to determine the return to in-person learning or continued remote education. This decision follows a nationwide safety assessment prompted by renewed regional tensions and emergency alerts. Authorities are prioritizing student and staff safety while ensuring educational continuity.
Lakhs of Indians received an 'Extremely Severe Alert' around 11:45am Saturday in a nationwide test of the new Cell Broadcast Alert System, causing panic across cities. The drill, conducted by NDMA and Department of Telecommunications, caught many off-guard with fears of real emergencies amid tensions in West Asia. The indigenous SACHET platform overrides silent settings and requires no internet, targeting specific districts for disasters like earthquakes, cyclones and floods.
A man created an AI-generated image of escaped wolf Neukgu "for fun." It fooled authorities, triggered emergency alerts, and derailed a nine-day search operation.
An independent committee investigating the deadly November fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, heard that the emergency mobile phone alert system would have taken up to an hour to activate and would have offered little help to fire services. The blaze killed 168 people — the deadliest in Hong Kong since 1948 — and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. The inquiry revealed that a property management employee accidentally disabled fire alarms while switching off hosepipes for repairs, and suggested five of seven affected towers caught fire at a late enough stage that evacuation might have been possible.
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The role of Hong Kong’s fire service remained under the spotlight on the 18th day of evidential hearings held by an independent committee investigating the catastrophic blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court. Three officers from the Fire Services Department testified on Thursday before the judge-led panel. Four of their colleagues gave accounts the previous day of...
