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.
Australian ministers are in conflict over a major Telstra outage. Communications Minister Anika Wells criticized opposition figures for suggesting China's involvement without evidence. Meanwhile, shadow minister Sarah Henderson faced backlash for testing the emergency triple-zero system during the outage.
Egypt has inaugurated 'The Octagon', its new State Strategic Command Headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. This advanced facility, spanning 22,000 acres, is described as one of the world's largest military headquarters and a 'miniature administrative and defence city'.
Three high-ranking officials in Hunan's emergency management system are under investigation for serious violations following a deadly fireworks factory explosion in Liuyang that killed 37, injured 51, and left 1 missing.
湖南省应急管理系统3名官员因涉嫌严重违纪违法被查。此前，浏阳市已有3名官员被查。此次调查与5月4日浏阳市华盛烟花制造燃放有限公司发生的特别重大爆炸事故有关，该事故已造成37人死亡。
Following a deadly mining accident that killed 82 miners in Qinyuan county, China has launched a month-long nationwide workplace safety inspection. An official from the provincial emergency management department is under investigation for "serious violations of discipline and law."
China's State Council released the "15th Five-Year Plan" for modernizing its emergency management system, focusing on proactive prevention, enhanced disaster response capabilities, and strengthening grassroots emergency preparedness. The plan aims to improve safety production and disaster relief efforts from 2026-2030.
China's National Flood Control Headquarters and Ministry of Emergency Management are holding consultations on heavy rainfall expected to affect multiple regions. The meeting focuses on flood prevention and disaster relief efforts in key areas like Chongqing, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu.
China's National Flood Control Headquarters and Ministry of Emergency Management are coordinating efforts to combat heavy rainfall from May 24-27. Emergency responses are active in multiple regions, with a focus on Chongqing, and preparedness measures are being implemented to mitigate risks of floods, landslides, and urban waterlogging.
China's National Flood Control Headquarters and Ministry of Emergency Management have initiated a Level IV emergency response for Hubei and Chongqing due to a new round of heavy rainfall expected from May 23-27. A working group has been dispatched to Hubei to assist with flood control efforts.
President Trump has nominated former Navy SEAL Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA, a surprising move given Trump's past criticism of the agency. Hamilton, previously a temporary leader, had argued against abolishing FEMA. His confirmation would make him the principal advisor on emergency management, taking over an agency facing workforce challenges and preparing for the upcoming disaster season.
FEMA has begun offering new appointments to disaster workers whose contracts were not renewed in January, reversing a controversial decision that prompted a coalition of unions, scientific groups and local governments to sue the administration. The agency paused nonrenewals in late January, and about 159 CORE employees had been affected before the pause. The lawsuit alleging the cuts undermined FEMA's disaster preparedness mandate continues.
A chemical leak at Catalyst Refiners silver recovery plant in Institute, West Virginia killed two people and sent about 30 to hospitals Wednesday. A violent chemical reaction involving nitric acid during a cleaning process produced toxic hydrogen sulfide. Seven ambulance workers were among the injured. A shelter-in-place order was issued for over five hours. OSHA has opened an investigation.
